On Sophia Loren's 78th birthday, LIFE.com presents a series of warm, informal portraits of the film legend by her friend, Alfred Eisenstaedt, made at the height of her international fame in the early '60s. Here, a previously unpublished picture of Sophia Loren in Italy in 1961.
Rare portraits of Sophia Loren —
On Sophia Loren's 78th birthday, LIFE.com presents a series of warm, informal portraits of the film legend by her friend, Alfred Eisenstaedt, made at the height of her international fame in the early '60s. Here, a previously unpublished picture of Sophia Loren in Italy in 1961.
Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Sophia Loren, Italy, 1961.
Rare portraits of Sophia Loren —
Sophia Loren, Italy, 1961.
Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Sophia Loren, Italy, 1961.
Rare portraits of Sophia Loren —
Sophia Loren, Italy, 1961.
Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Sophia Loren, 1962.
Rare portraits of Sophia Loren —
Sophia Loren, 1962.
Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Sophia Loren on her bed in her Italian villa, 1964.
Rare portraits of Sophia Loren —
Sophia Loren on her bed in her Italian villa, 1964.
Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Sophia Loren, 1964. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Flife.time.com%2Ficons%2Fsophia-loren-rare-and-classic-portraits%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">See the complete gallery on LIFE.com.</a>
Rare portraits of Sophia Loren —
Sophia Loren, 1964. See the complete gallery on LIFE.com.