#36: Sophia Loren (1962)

In 1962, Sophia Loren made history as she reacted with pure emotion to her Academy Award win for La Ciociara (Two Women). Her performance as a mother enduring the horrors of war earned her the Best Actress Oscar, making her the first actor ever to win for a non-English-language performance.

Loren’s raw, heartbreaking portrayal captivated audiences and set a new precedent for international cinema at the Oscars. Though she initially didn’t attend the ceremony, believing she wouldn’t win, she was overwhelmed with joy when she heard the news.