New musical helping Sophia Loren recover from husband's death

London, Jun 11 : Italian film actress Sophia Loren is smiling again for the first time ever since the death of her husband Carlo Ponti, thanks to her new movie role alongside Oscar-winner Daniel Day-Lewis.

The screen legend, while speaking about her love for her husband who passed away at the age of 94 last year, revealed that the role in Hollywood musical, Nine, has brought back happiness in her life after so many years.

"I met him when I was 15; we were together for a lifetime, it's so sad for me," the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

The 73-year-old, who has two sons from her marriage to Ponti, said she is quite excited that she will soon be in front of the cameras shooting Nine.

"To be in an American musical is the dream of my life," she said.

"Musicals make you feel alive. I can't wait to start," she added.

The veteran actress, fondly remembered for her comedy duet Goodness Gracious Me with Peter Sellers in the 1960 film The Millionairess, plays the mother of Day-Lewis' character.

She also gets to showcase her singing talents once again in the film, which co-stars fellow Oscar winners Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench and Nicole Kidman, though she modestly insists: "I'm no Barbra Streisand."

ANI