Regards. Mike
Posted on 10/19/2006 11:40:01 PM PDT by 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.
You could put your eye out.
I like the half full brandy bottle on the shelf......
Boy, if she is half of what she used to be (mama!)... She'll keep that boy busy! LOL
Not bad for nearly 80.
What you said. She's just gorgeous!
I just bought 1000 shares of the company that makes Poly-Grip.
Ooooh... seNorita "E-S-M-E-R-A-L-DAaaaaaaaaaaaaa' er....(nice pic)
Dayum. Downright cute, even at 76 years old (back in 2003).
I was actually Gina's first choice, but I had to tell her I'd already given my heart to Sophia....
You too?
Aargh!
She will be dead way before he reaches retirement age, just sad.
What makes you think he won't go first? A friend of mine had a mother who was 45 and her father was 77. It was always assumed that he would go first, but she ended up getting cancer and dying. Life has no guarantees. Life is too short to fret about age. Goodness even if she only has a few years left, can't she be happy. Plus they already have had 22 years. Another thing I don't understand from your post is why is it sad? Everyone is going to lose a spouse at some time or another (well at least 50 percent of all married people will go through it. The other 50 percent will be the deceased.)
I can only wish I looked that good.
Please forgive me, but... Double GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR...LOL
Thanks for the chuckle....
I always thought her name inspired Pee Wee's Big Top Gina Piccolapupula.
Good choice.
There is a liveliness in Gina's eyes that belies her age. No plastic surgery can produce it.
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