Sophia Loren

SOPHIA LOREN drove Charlton Heston so crazy during El Cid that he refused to even look at her when they filmed love scenes. But the macho star had met his ...

Mann shot take after take but Heston could barely bear to glance at Loren during passionate scenes and even in the climactic deathbed scene. In the battle of egos, the Italian would strike the final blow – over a billboard. In fact, he demanded that a stand-in was hired to take his place in any close-up scenes that only showed Loren's face. Starring roles opposite Cary Grant, Clark Gable and Sinatra followed in films like It Happened In Naples, Houseboat, The Pride and the Passion, and The Millionairess with Peter Sellers. She was as skilled at drama as comedy with a powerful physical presence and would win the first-ever acting Oscar for a film not in the English language for Two Women (La Ciociara) the year after El Cid. So what went wrong with Heston? Her co-star was not happy and did not try to hide it. Equally famous, equally acclaimed – and equally strong-willed and opinionated.