Sophia Loren was at her happiest when her children were born

During Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire – in which stars are asked 35 questions and have just five seconds to answer each one – Sophia was asked when and where she was happiest, and she said: “In the hospital when my children were born.”

Sophia also spoke about her kids when she was asked to name her idea of “perfect happiness”, which she said involved having dinner with her family.

She responded: “A plate of fettuccine ragù with my kids.”

And when asked what her “greatest fear” is, she quipped: “To overcook that plate of fettuccine.”

Sophia listed her sons and her four grandchildren as the “greatest loves” of her life, and named her “memories and experience” as her “most treasured possession”.

Asked to name her greatest regret, the ‘Two Women’ star said: “That I didn’t get married in a white dress”, whilst a question about which of her features she dislikes the most prompted her to answer: “After 86 years, I’m past disliking parts of my appearance.”

Also during the interview, Sophia admitted the talent she would most like to have is the ability to sing.

The ‘Houseboat’ star became close friends with iconic musician Frank Sinatra – who died in May 1998 at the age of 82 – after they starred together in 'The Pride and the Passion', and recently said the star would never share his singing talent with the cast and crew of the 1957 movie.

She said: "He used to stay in his trailer very often.

“He never sang on the set because [there were] many people."

When asked, "Not even for you?” Sophia answered: "No, no! [He would say], ‘We are shooting, we are shooting.’ OK, OK, ciao.”