Cardinale was surrounded by her family at the time of her death, according to her agent.
The famous star starred in some of the most celebrated films of the 1960s and 1970s, entrancing audiences across the globe with the sultry gaze that made her the muse of filmmakers.
Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli called her "one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time," and the embodiment of "Italian grace."
An icon of Italian cinema
Born in Tunis in 1938 to Sicilian parents, Cardinale grew up speaking French, Arabic and Sicilian, once describing her childhood in the North African country as a "golden age" filled with "magical moments."
Cardinale's career began at the age of 17 after winning a beauty contest that crowned her "the most beautiful Italian woman in Tunis."
This was her ticket to the Venice Film Festival, and led to her appearing in more than 100 films over five decades.
"The fact I'm making movies is just an accident," she said in 2002. "When they asked me 'do you want to be in the movies?' I said no and they insisted for six months."
She is best known for her work in Federico Fellini's "8½," Luchino Visconti's "The Leopard" and Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in the West."
She worked with leading directors across Europe and Hollywood, and starred alongside actors including Marcello Mastroianni, Burt Lancaster, Alain Delon and Henry Fonda. She also earned critical acclaim for her theater performances.
Her accolades include the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Golden Bear at the Berlinale.
An advocate of women’s rights
Cardinale was often described as one of Italy's three great post-war icons, alongside Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida.
She received lifetime achievement awards from both the Venice and Berlin film festivals and was named a UNESCO goodwill ambassador in 2000 for her advocacy on women’s rights.
As a UNESCO ambassador and supporter of the #MeToo and Time's Up movements, she campaigned for freedom, independence and female self-determination, speaking of her own rape at the beginning of her career.
Reflecting on how cinema had shaped her life, she said she was grateful.
"They gave me everything," Cardinale had said. "It's marvelous to live so many lives."
Claudia Cardinale and other heroines of European film
Claudia Cardinale is seen as Italy's counterpart to France's Brigitte Bardot. The actress who became a star in the 1950s and 60s now celebrates her 85th birthday.
Image: picture-alliance/Everett Collection
Claudia Cardinale
She's the youngest of Italy's three major female stars. Claudia Cardinale worked with outstanding directors like Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini. She fascinated audiences with her charming smile and acting skills in westerns, among them "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "The Professionals" (pictured).
Image: picture-alliance/Everett Collection
Gina Lollobrigida
One of the most highly acclaimed European stars of the 1950s and 60s was Gina Lollobrigida who was born in the East of Rome in 1927. "Lollo" even made it to Hollywood where she was equally showered with praise. In the 1970s, however, she withdrew from showbiz.
Image: picture-alliance/United Archives/IFTN
Sophia Loren
Another Italian actress, Sophia Loren, who was a few years younger than Lollo, became her fiercest rival. The mutual hatred and jealousy of the two stars was a frequent topic in tabloids. In contrast to Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren continued to perform in movies even as an older woman.
Image: Jörg Schmitt/dpa/picture-alliance
Brigitte Bardot
During the same time, another sexpot rose to stardom in France with movies like "And God Created Woman" and "Love is my Profession." Brigitte Bardot, the superstar of the Grande Nation, withdrew from film production in the 1970s to devote herself to animal rights causes.
Image: United Archives/picture alliance
Catherine Deneuve
A decade later, Bardot's compatriot Catherine Deneuve broke onto the film scene. Deneuve differed much from both Loren and Lollo by playing roles as aloof and myterious women early in her career. Deneueve's talent as an actress guaranteed her success throughout her life.
Image: Imago/United Archives
Romy Schneider
The two decades between 1960 and 1980 were also the golden era of German-French actress Romy Schneider. Born in Vienna, she made her breakthrough in the German-speaking world as "Sissi" before moving to France. In Paris, she became one of the most charismatic and impressive actresses of European film scene. But in her private life, she was anything but lucky. She died in 1982.
Image: United Archives/IMAGO IMAGES
Penélope Cruz
One of the most famous Europen actresses in recent decades is Spanish actress Penélope Cruz. Cruz started her career in her home country before achieving fame in other European countries and, finally, Hollywood. Her performances received a lot of acclaim, especially in films by director Pedro Almodóvar, among them "Volver" (pictured).
Image: imago/EntertainmentPictures
Irene Papas
After 1945, actresses from smaller European nations were able to conquer the hearts of audiences across Europe. One of them was Irene Papas who is also renowned as a singer in her home country, Greece. She celebrated her biggest success in "Zorba the Greek" (1964) before also working in other European countries, and in Hollywood.
Image: Imago/United Archives
Tatjana Samoilova
While films from Italy, France, Germany and England dominated the film scene during the postwar era, it should not be forgotten that eastern Europe had much to offer too. One of the biggest female stars of Russian film was certainly Tatjana Samoilova who achieved world fame with the movie "The Cranes are Flying" (1957).
Image: Imago/United Archives
Krystyna Janda
Polish actress Krystyna Janda became known in the 1970s for her performances in films by Polish director Andrzej Wajda. She then performed in international co-productions with stars like Lino Ventura. In her home country, Krystyna Janda is also known as a singer and an an author.
