Sophia Loren Tells Story Behind Hollywood’s Most Epic Side-Eye

Let’s go back to the infamous moment decades ago when Jayne Mansfield, in all of her womanly glory, sat next to then-rising Italian star Sophia Loren. The now 80-year-old Loren recently said she was afraid something was about to blow. That something was Mansfield’s low-cut dress.

Though the image has widely been accepted as photographic proof that shade has no start date, Loren says in recent interview with Entertainment Weekly that the look on her face is fear. Pure, unadulterated fear.

“Listen. Look at the picture,” Loren told EW. “Where are my eyes? I’m staring at her nipples because I am afraid they are about to come onto my plate. In my face you can see the fear. I’m so frightened that everything in her dress is going to blow—BOOM!—and spill all over the table.”

Read more at Entertainment Weekly.