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Sophia Loren celebrates 80th birthday

Loren began acting at the tender age of 14 and rose to fame in the 1960s after starring in the war drama "Two Women."

By Veronica Linares
Sophia in 2014. UPI/David Silpa
1 of 6 | Sophia in 2014. UPI/David Silpa | License Photo

ROME, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Italian movie star Sophia Loren is celebrating her 80th birthday on Monday.

Loren began acting at the tender age of 14 and rose to fame in the 1960s after starring in the war drama Two Women. She received an Academy Award for her performance on the flick in 1962 and became the first actress to receive an Oscar for a performance in a foreign language film.

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GALLERY: Sophia Loren

Loren is also known for having the most ever David di Donatello Awards for Best Actress, six in total, for her roles in Two Women, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Marriage Italian-Style -- which also earned her a second nomination for an Oscar -- Sunflower, The Voyage and A Special Day.

In addition to being known as one of the most beautiful women of her generation, Loren earned five Golden Globes, a BAFTA Award, a Laurel Award, a Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievements and an honorary Academy Award in 1991 for her contributions to cinema.

The actress married Italian producer Carlo Ponti, who discovered her as a teenager, in 1966 and stayed with him until his death in 2007. The couple had two children together Carlo Ponti, Jr. and Edoardo Ponti.

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You can check out UPI's collection of Loren's pictures throughout the years here.

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