Silvana Pampanini became a major star in the 1950s. Along with Sophia Loren, the actress put Italy on the map with regards to being a forced to be reckoned with in the film world. The actress rose to fame after appearing in a beauty contest, and by the ’50s, every big American studio wanted to sign her. Ultimately, though, she refused them all, and she had one reason why…

Pampanini – who once compared herself to the divine Greta Garbo – was unlike other actress. She always went her own way and decided early on to keep her work and career within the family. While she became one of the most prominent Italian stars, her private life was a big mystery. She never married or had children, despite boasting what she described as “more suitors than headaches.”

Pampanini’s life was dedicated to the arts, though she gave up on her acting career relatively early. Despite living a long, and by all accounts, happy life, her time on this Earth came to a tragic ending a decade ago.

So, without further ado, let’s look at the Italian diva’s remarkable tale…