Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life

By Sophia Loren

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow is Sophia Loren's definitive autobiography, revealing her personal journey from the hardship of her childhood in Naples to her life as a screen legend, sharing stories of work, love, and family.

Each chapter begins with a letter, a document, a photograph, or object that prompts her reminiscences. In her own words, these memoirs originated as, "Unpublished memories, curious anecdotes, tiny secrets told, all of which spring from a box found by chance, a precious treasure trove filled with emotions, experiences, adventures."

In her incredible life story, Loren vividly recounts her difficult childhood in Naples during World War II, remembers her parents and their tempestuous relationship, and reveals the pain of growing up in her grandparents' house with her single, unmarried mother and younger sister. She tells how she got her start by winning a beauty pageant ("La regina del mare") and how her ambition drove her success in cinema before revealing the influence of the producer Carlo Ponti, who cast her in her early roles and later became her husband. Loren takes us behind the scenes of the movies, her early stardom and move to Hollywood revealing intimate and never before shared stories of her famed costars: Brando, Newman, Burton, Peck, Heston, and many more. With emotional honesty, Loren goes on to discuss her long desire to become a mother and the disappointments she suffered on that path, the ultimate joy she felt at having her two sons, and scenes from her life as a mother and grandmother.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Nov 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781471140754

Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren is an international film star who won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women. She has earned a record six David Di Donatello Awards for Best Actress, a Grammy Award, and five special Golden Globes, as well as the Honorary Academy Award in 1991. In 1995, she received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. Loren lives in Europe and frequents Los Angeles where her two sons and grandchildren live.

Reviews for Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

[gaillamontagne · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An incredible story of rags to riches. She was a child in Italy during WWII and remembers the horrors, starvation and devastation of war. She describes herself as shy and knew she was unusual looking at a young age. Raised by an independent single mother and her grandmother, Sophia learned from her mother to not give up and use her beauty to her advantage and still keep her Catholic morals. Her career began at 15 in beauty pageants which earned money for her starving family and filled the dreams of her beautiful mother who was not allowed to be a pageant contestant in her earlier years. Very interesting childhood life in Italy and her rise to stardom. Her experiences with jewel robberies, miscarriages and her personal relationships with Hollywood actors, Brando, Newman, Charlie Chaplin, Burton, Cary Grant, Jane Mansfield etc. was very interesting but there was far too much detail about her Italian scripts which I have no interest in. Although, it was interesting learning about her most famous Italian films such as Two Women and how she got the part. Her fans in Europe may be more interested in her earlier carrier. I skipped several chapters because of the focus on Italian films which were hard for an American who doesn't know anything about it to follow. I think the book could have used a lot more editing , just not exactly what I was looking for.

[laugal-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am a huge fan of Sophia Loren,have been since I was a child.In our Sicilian household she reigned supreme. I've read other books abt her. For me she is the epitome of female. She had had it all,and lost it all,been put down and never gave up,always persevered,yet she is the same humble person. She has lived her life her way and by her choices.We all should be able to do that! She once said "everything in her life came late.For me that has always been a reminder to be patient. I liked this book a lot.Yes it was dry in spots but most biographies and autobiographies are.The photos are beautiful. Liked it a lot. had the library copy now buying my own copy. I loved reading her life story form her!

[nelliemc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fairly light reading by one of the iconic actresses of the 20th century. This book has a definite voice—one that seems proud and happy of a life well-lived. Particularly poignant when discussing her early life as a child in wartime Italy, essentially starving and often almost homeless. It's obvious that a number of people befriended the young Sophia and gave her her chances—she is grateful to all of them and gives them kudos and assures us that their kindness was due to their generous spirits. Those of us who are cynical may wonder quite what was extended in return, but she seems to be such a good-natured and genuinely kind person, that is doesn't really matter. Not a book for those looking for either indepth analysis or gossip - just a nice middle-of-the-road autobiography.