You’ve seen the photo. Even if you aren’t a classic cinema buff, you’ve definitely scrolled past it. It’s the ultimate piece of Hollywood "receipts."
In it, the legendary Italian actress Sophia Loren is sitting at a table, looking absolutely snatched in a chic, dark dress. But she isn’t looking at the camera. She’s casting the most lethal side-eye in history at the woman sitting next to her: Jayne Mansfield.
Jayne is leaning forward, basically spilling out of a pink satin dress that seems to be held together by hope and prayer. It’s a moment of pure, unadulterated tension. People love to frame it as a "mean girl" moment or a clash of the titans. But honestly? The truth is way more about physics and a very real fear of a wardrobe malfunction than it is about a celebrity feud.
The Night Everything Almost Popped Off
The year was 1957. April 12th, specifically.
Paramount Pictures had thrown a massive "Welcome to Hollywood" bash for Sophia Loren at Romanoff’s in Beverly Hills. This was her big moment. She was the Italian import everyone was talking about. All of Hollywood's A-list was there. We're talking about the kind of event where you don't just show up; you arrive.
Then came Jayne Mansfield.
She was the last one to get there. According to Sophia, Jayne didn't just walk in; she "made an entrance." She headed straight for Sophia’s table and sat down between her and her dinner companion, Clifton Webb.
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Why Sophia Was Really Looking
For years, people assumed Sophia was being judgmental or jealous. But in 2014, Sophia finally set the record straight in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She wasn't judging Jayne's fashion choices—she was genuinely terrified.
"She came right for my table. She knew everyone was watching," Sophia recalled. She explained that she was staring at Jayne’s chest because she was convinced something was about to "blow—BOOM!" and end up on her dinner plate.
If you look at the uncropped, uncensored versions of the photo, you can see why. Jayne’s dress was incredibly low-cut. There was no bra. In fact, in some of the shots taken by photographers Delmar Watson and Joe Shere, Jayne is actually experiencing what we’d call a "nip slip" today.
Sophia’s expression wasn't "I hate her." It was "I am witnessing a disaster in real-time."
A Calculated Move by the Blonde Bombshell
You have to understand who Jayne Mansfield was. She wasn't just some random starlet; she was a marketing genius.
Often called the "Working Man’s Marilyn Monroe," Jayne knew exactly how to stay in the headlines. She was famous for "staged accidents." One time, her bikini top "fell off" in a pool while journalists were around. She knew exactly what she was doing when she showed up late to Sophia’s party in that dress.
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She wanted the cameras. She got them.
While Sophia was the guest of honor, Jayne became the story. It was a classic publicity stunt, and it worked so well that we’re still talking about it nearly 70 years later.
Why Sophia Loren Refuses to Sign It
Despite how iconic the image is, don't ever ask Sophia Loren to autograph a copy. She won’t do it.
She has a very specific reason for this. Even though the photo is hilarious to us, she sees it as a matter of respect. Jayne Mansfield died tragically in a car accident in 1967 at just 34 years old.
"I don't want to have anything to do with that," Sophia has said. "And also out of respect for Jayne Mansfield because she’s not with us anymore."
It’s a classy move. It shows that while the moment was tense and a bit ridiculous, there wasn't any lasting "beef" between the two women. In other photos from that same night, you can actually see them laughing together and shaking hands. The "side-eye" was just a split second captured by a fast shutter.
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Recreations and Legacy
The photo has been parodied a million times.
- Modern Family did a version with Julie Bowen and Sofia Vergara.
- Sydney Sweeney and Maude Apatow recreated it for a shoot.
- It’s been turned into countless memes about "checking the competition."
But the original carries a weight that the parodies don't. It represents a specific era of Hollywood where the studio system was trying to control everything, but the stars—through sheer force of personality or a well-timed plunging neckline—were starting to take control of their own narratives.
How to Apply "The Sophia" Energy
There’s actually a lesson here beyond the gossip.
- Know your brand: Jayne Mansfield knew her brand was "bombshell" and she leaned into it, even if it meant crashing a party.
- Class over clicks: Sophia Loren could have milked that photo for decades. Instead, she chose to protect the dignity of a woman who wasn't there to defend herself.
- Context is everything: A single photo never tells the whole story. Before you judge someone based on a screenshot, remember that they might just be worried about a wardrobe malfunction landing in their fettuccine.
If you’re a fan of Old Hollywood, the best thing you can do is look past the headlines and read the actual memoirs. Sophia’s book, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: My Life, is a great place to start. It gives you a real look at what it was like to be a woman in an industry that was constantly trying to pit you against everyone else.
Stick to the facts, keep it classy, and maybe think twice before wearing backless satin to a seated dinner.
Next Steps for Classic Film Lovers:
If you want to dive deeper into this era, look up the photography of Joe Shere. He was the one who captured the most famous version of the side-eye. You can also check out the early films of both actresses—like Sophia’s Two Women or Jayne’s The Girl Can’t Help It—to see why they were both powerhouse stars in their own right, regardless of what happened at Romanoff's.