(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 8 - Screen legend Sophia Loren was named Thursday the 'godmother' of the 100th anniversary edition of the Verona Opera Festival next month.
    "Sophia Loren will be the patroness of the evening celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Arena di Verona Opera Festival that will be broadcast worldwide," said Undersecretary for Culture, Gianmarco Mazzi.
    "We have been waiting for confirmation to say it: an exceptional godmother, the icon that most of all gives the sense of Italy in the world, will be with us on the evening of 16 June. We invited her and she has just confirmed her presence,' said Mazzi, who promised a 'true parterre de roi' for the event.
    Former sex symbol Loren, 88, was the first foreign-language actor to win an Oscar, for Two Women, in 961, and also has five Golden Globes in her trophy cabinet. (ANSA).