Sophia Loren: How I rejected Cary Grant and 'pulverised' Marlon Brando

In her new autobiography, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (the name of one of her films), the screen idol recalls having to fend off the advances of both Cary Grant and Marlon Brando.

Loren, 80, first worked with Grant on 1957 film The Pride and the Passion. He was 30 years older than her and married to his third wife, while she was on the verge of marrying film producer Carlo Ponti, who would later become her husband of 40 years until his death in 2007.

But none of this deterred Grant, who sent letters begging Loren to leave her partner for him, as well as sending daily flowers.

“You’ll be in my prayers,” he wrote. “If you think and pray with me, for the same thing and purpose, all will be right and life will be good.”