Sophia Loren's whirlwind romance with Cary Grant revisited on her 90th birthday

As Sophia Loren celebrates her 90th birthday, the legendary actress’s love affair with Cary Grant during the late 1950s has once again captured public attention. Loren and Grant met on the set of The Pride and the Passion in 1957, where their chemistry quickly turned into a romantic relationship. Despite their strong connection, the relationship was complicated by Grant’s marriage to his third wife, Betsy Drake, and Loren’s engagement to Italian director Carlo Ponti​

Loren, then 23, was charmed by Grant’s wit and elegance, and the pair began an affair that led Grant to propose to her. However, Loren was torn between her growing Hollywood career and her love for Ponti, who was navigating the complexities of divorcing his first wife. Reflecting on her decision, Loren later stated, “I had to make a choice. Carlo was Italian; he belonged to my world... I know it was the right thing to do, for me”​

Despite Grant’s persistent affections, including love letters and lavish gifts, Loren chose to stay with Ponti, with whom she eventually married in 1966. Their enduring relationship lasted until Ponti’s death in 2007. As Loren turns 90, her memories of Grant remain a fascinating chapter in her life, but her love for Ponti defined her personal journey