Sophia Loren Two Women 1962

After Sophia Loren won the Oscar for “Two Women,” it seemed that the only roles offered to her were that of a hooker. From 1957 to 1979, she played a prostitute on average once every three years. Sophia holds the record for playing the most prostitutes for any female Oscar winner – Ms. Loren has played SEVEN Prostitutes in her career, edging out Simone Signoret by one. Ironically, that “one” movie is a remake of a Simone Signoret film when she last played a hooker. More on that role at the end of this post.

“Legend of the Lost” features Sophia as Dita. She is a pickpocketing prostitute who wants to escape this dreary existence she has found herself in. An archaeologist and his tour guide are searching for a lost city, so she decides to hitch a ride with them.

“Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” featured Sophia and Marcello Mastroianni in three separate stories, playing three different characters. In the third story, Sophia plays Mara, a hooker who works out of her apartment. This film is where Sophia performs her famous striptease scene.

Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia teamed again for “Marriage, Italian Style.” Sophia’s character starts as a poor waif, turning tricks at a brothel. She meets a rich, powerful man during one of those dates. She goes from working in that brothel to being the man’s mistress.

“La pupa del gangster” (aka “Gun Moll”) is an Italian screwball comedy. Sophia plays a hooker without a care in the world. That is until she gets mixed up with the Mafia, then the hilarity begins.

Man of La Mancha is an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, based on the story “Don Quixote.” Sophia plays Dulcinea del Toboso, a figment of Don Quixote’s imagination. He sees her as a goddess who exudes purity and beauty. But in reality, Dulcinea is a barmaid and hooker named Aldonza Lorenzo.

Angela features Sophia as the title character. She is a former high-class call girl who is shocked to discover the man she has fallen in love with is her son!

“The Life Ahead” is a remake of the 1977 film “Madame Rosa” starring Simone Signoret. In this film, Sophia plays a retired hooker. She decides to start her third act in life, babysitting the children of other prostitutes. When they have to go out and make a call, Madame Rosa looks after their kids.

To read more about this prostitute role & other Oscar-winning actresses playing a hooker, please continue perusing

Oscar Hookers

If you know of this actress playing more than one prostitute role, please tweet to me and let me know! I’ll gladly add it to the page here. My Twitter handle is at the top of this page.