The Crush: Sophia Loren

We would never dream of calling Sophia Loren a glamorous grandma; ‘Dahling,’ she’d purr, all velvety Franco-Italian and withering raised eyebrow, ‘I am no Iris Apfel.’

And it’s true. When it comes to this (whisper it) 78-year-old actress, we don’t crush her in a ‘cute outfit, fabulous accessories’ kind of a way, we crush her like we do Christina Hendricks, Kate Upton and the barrista at Caffè Nero who always gives us an extra coffee stamp. Like, for real. But it’s OK, right? Because this isn’t just any almost-octogenarian, this is Sophia Sex Bomb Loren, who posed nearly nude for the Pirelli calendar in her seventies, so we’re far from the only ones still longing for a peek at those voluptuous, um, assets.

We defy you to look at the Oscar-winning legend today without still seeing her in that flirty peasant blouse in The Gold of Naples (1954) or as Richard Burton’s lusty lover in Brief Encounter (1974). Sure the £35,000 she’s spent on plastic surgery might have something to do with it, but who’s complaining? Loren is currently filming a movie made by her son Edoardo in Italy, playing an irresistible paramour. Imagine Liza Minnelli trying to pull that one off. On second thoughts, don’t.