Sophia Loren is an Italian actress. She began her film career in 1950, signed a five-picture contract with Paramount Pictures in 1956, and appeared in Houseboat, Legend of the Lost, and The Pride and the Passion. Loren also starred in Two Women for which she received the Academy Award for Best Actress, Grumpier Old Men, and Nine with Nicole Kidman. Beyond her acting career, she has made music contributions, with two of her most popular songs being the singles Bing! Bang! Bong! and Tu vuo' fa' l'americano.