What the world didn’t know was that Claudia was pregnant after being raped by an older man. She chose to keep her child, later hiding the truth by presenting her son Patrick as her younger brother for nearly two decades. In later interviews, she spoke openly about that painful chapter, emphasizing her strength and refusal to surrender her motherhood.

Eventually, she signed a long-term contract with powerful producer Franco Cristaldi, who later became her husband. Under his control, every detail of her life was managed, from roles to appearance, and her pregnancy remained hidden.

Despite this, Claudia’s talent shone through. By the late 1950s, films like Three Strangers in Rome made her Italy’s sweetheart—marking the rise of a legend who endured far more than audiences ever knew.