Bambi welcomes three movie icons

To mark Bambi’s 70th birthday, three global film stars will be gracing Berlin with their presence on Friday, 16 November 2018: Swiss actress Liselotte Pulver, 89, Italy’s Sophia Loren, 84, and Spain’s Penélope Cruz, 44. Ms Pulver will be accepting the “Lifetime achievement” award, Ms Cruz will be receiving the “International actress” award and Ms Loren will be joining Thomas Gottschalk on stage to look back at 70 years of Bambi.

Sophia Loren and Liselotte Pulver have met on the Bambi stage several times before (in 1964, 1965, 1967 and 1968) when receiving awards for their acting achievements, and have often added a touch of glamour to proceedings as invited guests – Sophia, the sensual, elegant global star, and Liselotte, the natural, cheerful face of German-language cinema. Penélope Cruz will be attending the Bambi ceremony for the first time.

Lilo’s lifetime achievements

Liselotte Pulver has received six Bambi awards so far, and on 16 November 2018 she will be honoured for her life’s work.

“Liselotte ‘Lilo’ Pulver, one of the biggest stars in German cinema since the 1950s, loves to enchant audiences with her irresistible and infectious laugh. This is no furtive smile, but a hearty laugh that comes from the heart. And this is what makes it so authentic. Lilo’s laugh became her trademark. Cheeky, sometimes subversive and usually boyish, it earned her a series of roles wearing male clothing, which she naturally filled with style. A fantastic actress, she has also performed on stage at the Schauspielhaus Zürich and forged an international career.”

Bambi jury

In Billy Wilder’s Cold War satire “One, Two, Three” (1961), she danced on a table in a spotted dress as the sassy Fräulein Ingeborg. She also appeared in many French productions, including Jean Gabin’s comedy “Monsieur” (1964). She even received a Golden Globe nomination for “A Global Affair” (1964), which also starred Bob Hope. While her film roles began to decrease in the 70s, she gained a whole new fan base with her heartfelt performances on “Sesamstrasse” (1978–1985), the German version of “Sesame Street”. She made her last on-camera appearance in 2007 for the remake of “The Zurich Engagement”.

Sophia talks Bambi

Sophia Loren may not be adding to her ten Bambi awards this year, but she will be joining Thomas Gottschalk to talk about 70 years of Bambi and share her memories of its wonderful ceremonies.

Having taken a break from Hollywood since 1996, Loren returned in 2009 for Rob Marshall’s musical “Nine” alongside Nicole Kidman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard and Penélope Cruz, who will be receiving this year’s “International actress” award. These two feisty and joyous Mediterranean women get along famously, and posed for photos hand in hand at the “Nine” première. Sophia Loren is a huge role model for Ms Cruz, who appeared on the cover of “New York Times Magazine” sporting the Loren look.

Penélope’s art

Penélope Cruz has appeared in more than 40 productions. “Everybody Knows”, a psychological thriller directed by Asghar Faradi and starring her husband Javier Bardem, was recently released in Spanish cinemas. “La Cruz” has worked with directors such as Kenneth Branagh and Pedro Almodóvar and has won an Oscar, a British Academy Film Award, several Goyas, a European Film Award and an honorary César, which moved her to tears. And now she will have a Bambi too.

“In the thriller ‘Everybody Knows’, Penélope Cruz delivers yet another passionate, virtuoso performance.”

Bambi jury

Her acting pedigree can also be seen in recent productions such as “Loving Pablo”, in which she portrays a reporter who falls for Pablo Escobar (Javier Bardem), and “The Assassination of Gianni Versace”, which features Ms Cruz as Donatella Versace.

A Spanish superstar, she is one of the most successful European actresses in the world.

The 70th Bambi ceremony takes place on 16 November 2018. The illustrious event will be broadcast live from the Theater am Potsdamer Platz on Das Erste from 8:15pm.