Lollobrigida, 79, to marry man 34 years younger

The Daily Telegraph ^ | October 20, 2006 | Malcolm Moore

[MadIvan]

Gina Lollobrigida, the 79-year-old Italian actress, is to marry a Spanish man almost half her age.

Lollobrigida, who has been married once before and has a grandson, told Spanish Hello! magazine that she would marry Javier Rigau Rifols, 45. "I have always had a weakness for young men," she said.

The former Hollywood heartthrob said she met Mr Rigau, a property entrepreneur from Barcelona, at a party in Monte Carlo in 1984. At the time, Lollobrigida was 57 and Mr Rigau was 23.

The pair embarked on a secret 22-year relationship. "After the party, we saw each other the following day, and the one after, until today," Lollobrigida said.

Mr Rigau said: "Gina is my life. I have been in love with her divinely during all these years." Lollobrigida added: "At the beginning, what there was between me and Javier was only passion, not love. That came later."

Mr Rigau said he had not previously been a fan of Lollobrigida's films, which include Beat the Devil, Trapeze and Come September. "Mine is not the history of a fan, some fanatic that has become enamoured of a star," he said.

Lollobrigida was once described as "the most beautiful woman in the world". Her beauty allegedly prompted Howard Hughes to fly her to Hollywood in the 1950s and caused Humphrey Bogart to exclaim that she made "Marilyn Monroe look like Shirley Temple".

In Italy, she is seen as the perfect woman, and known as La Lollo. Four years ago, 500,000 Italians turned up at Iesole, near Venice, when a beach was named after her.

Anyone doubting the durability of her beauty is given short shrift. Lollobrigida has called herself "The Colosseum", saying: "I will never collapse."

Mr Rigau has reportedly given her an engagement ring which boasts a 36-carat emerald. Lollobrigida, an accomplished photographer and sculptress, has carved him a statue called "The Joy of Life" for his home on the Costa Brava. "We will marry at the end of the year in a church," she said.

[GretchenM]

For the younguns who never heard of her:

In Moscow, 2003

[SunkenCiv]

:')

[x1stcav]

This story more or less parallels the time in 1984 when I met Audrey Hepburn at a party in Rome. She was 55 and I was 39. I had dabbled in real estate and she was a famous actress.

The parallel, unfortunately, ended there.

[goldstategop]

You can never be too old to find love.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[goldstategop]

For 79, Lollo still looks beautiful - still full of the grace Italians adored when she was young.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[goldstategop]

No surgery. My late father, may his memory be for a blessing, looked youthful to the end of his life when he died last year. I still look in my 30s. :)

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[ZULU]

God bless Manuel II Palaeologus wherever he is.

[Petronski]

What's the Italian word for "pool boy?"

[Iowa Granny]

Thanks for the ping. Interesting contrast of comments.

[ko_kyi]

good for her.

[proud American in Canada]

Interesting contrast of comments.

I was thinking the same thing. :)

[veronica]

She looks amazing.

But why do all those fabulous older babes wear the same hideous wig??

Joan Collins

[bmwcyle]

You go girl!

[Fresh Wind]

She will be dead way before he reaches retirement age, just sad.

Actually, when she dies, he will have reached retirement age.

[Iowa Granny]

Interesting contrast of comments.
I was thinking the same thing. :)

I can't help but wonder about the gender and age of those making comments. Do you want to bet that those saying, "You go Girl", are females nearing or have past legal retirement age?

I'm falling into the "It's nobody's business, but it makes for interesting conversation" category.

[GreenLanternCorps]

"Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?"

[NickatNite2003]

Not a woman, not nearing retirement.

I remember as a youth, watching her on
the screen, and thinking.."Boy, When
i grow up i want a girl like that!"
and that was years before i knew what
to *do* with a girl like that, ir any
other kind of girl...But i knew what i liked! 8oP~~~~~

[proud American in Canada]

I'm falling into the "It's nobody's business, but it makes for interesting conversation" category.

LOL, I know what you mean. :)

I think that basically, it's men who are slightly nauseated about it, and women who applaud it.

[Polybius]

what does she look like now ?

[Larry Lucido]

She likes younger men, huh? So, where was she when she was 35 and I was, um, 5?