Claudia Cardinale said Saturday she would not attend Alain Delon's funeral at his French estate later in the day saying she felt "too much grief" at the passing of her former co-star in Luchino Visconti's masterpiece The Leopard.
Cardinale, 86, said she was too grief-stricken to go to Delon's funeral in the private chapel of the actor's estate in Douchy, France, according to the actress's agent.
Delon, who died last Sunday at the age of 88, was buried near his dogs according to his wishes at the end of a ceremony conducted by former bishop Jean-Michel Di Falco, long considered France's 'celebrity chaplain'.
Italian film legend Cardinale on Monday paid homage to her co-star in Il Gattopardo, telling ANSA that "the ball is over", evoking an iconic scene in the movie in which the celebrated pair danced.
Citing their characters' names in the 1963 movie, Cardinale said "Tancredi has risen to dance with the stars - forever your Angelica".
The actress added "sadness is too intense" for words.
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