2016 Sarasota Film Festival | Sophia Loren makes personal appearance in Sarasota

She's one of the most universally beloved film stars of all time, with a career that spans 53 years (so far) and includes intense dramas, action flicks, romantic comedies and even an animated feature. She was the first actress to win an Oscar for a non-speaking role. She has starred opposite Richard Burton, Alan Ladd, Charlton Heston and Burt Lancaster. When she was in her 20s, she broke off an affair with Cary Grant to marry Italian film director Carlo Ponti Jr. When she was a child during World War II, she was wounded in an Allied bombing of her Italian village.

You can hear Sophia Loren herself tell these stories and others when she comes to Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall today with a program titled "An Evening With Sophia Loren."

The evening features Loren, who's still lovely at age 81, in an on-stage conversation. She'll show movie clips from her career, which includes such classics as "Two Women," "El Cid" and "Man of La Mancha." She even did a voice-over for "Cars 2," for the release in non-English speaking countries. She'll take questions from the audience.

Loren's appearance will also serve as a kick-off event for the Sarasota Film Festival which starts in earnest the next day. Loren will be given the festival's Legend Award during her appearance.

Details: 8 p.m. March 31, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: $35-$130. Information: 941-953-3368, vanwezel.org.

--Marty Clear

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 6:19 PM with the headline "2016 Sarasota Film Festival | Sophia Loren makes personal appearance in Sarasota ."