Italian cinema great Claudia Cardinale (born Claude Josephine Rose "Claudia" Cardinale) passed away on Tuesday surrounded by her family in her home in Nemours, near Paris, at the age of 87, ANSA reports.

Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli hailed her as "one of the greatest Italian actresses of all time," saying she embodied "Italian grace."

The Tunisian-born actress was the muse of directors Luchino Visconti and Federico Fellini, starring in classic movies such as The Leopard and the Oscar-winning 8 1/2.

Also, she had success in Hollywood, appearing in Blake Edwards' The Pink Panther with Peter Sellers and Henry Hathaway's Circus World with Rita Hayworth and John Wayne.

In total she starred on 175 movies and won career prizes at the Venice and Berlin film festivals.

In 1991, Claudia Cardinale had starred on French Armenian filmmaker Henri Verneuil’s (born Ashot Malakian) film, Mayrig (Mother), together with renowned Egyptian actor Omar Sharif.