Brigitte Bardot

Background

Brigitte Bardot has left a clear mark on cinema. Her acting days may be long gone, but she remains a pop culture icon. Bardot was born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, France. Her zodiac sign is Libra and her ethnicity is French. She is the daughter of Louis Bardot and Anne-Marie Muscle and has a younger sister named Mijanou. Her parents enrolled her in the private school Cours Hattemer when she was seven years old, and she took dance lessons in her free time. She attended the Conservatoire de Paris and the Institut de la Tour, and she took ballet classes under choreographer Boris Knyazev. In 1949, Bardot was hired as a junior fashion model by “Elle” and “Le Jardin des Modes” director, Hélène Gordon-Lazareff, and she appeared on the cover of “Elle” when she was 15 years old.

In 1952, Bardot appeared on the cover of “Elle” yet again and made her acting debut in the film “Le Trou Normand” (“Crazy for Love”). She followed this up by landing the title role in “Manina, la fille sans voile” (“The Lighthouse-Keeper’s Daughter/The Girl in the Bikini”). The following year, she appeared in “Le Portrait de son père” (“His Father’s Portrait”) and “Act of Love.” In 1954, she appeared in “Si Versailles m’était conté” (“Royal Affairs in Versailles”), and “Tradita” (“Concert of Intrigue”). Bardot starred in five films in 1955, including “Le Fils de Caroline chérie” (“Caroline and the Rebels”), “Doctor at Sea,” and “La Lumière d’en face” (“The Light Across the Street”). In 1956, she played Andraste in the Hollywood film “Helen of Troy.” That same year, Bardot was cast in “Mio figlio Nerone” (“Nero’s Weekend”), for which director Steno wanted her to be blonde in the film, so she dyed her naturally brunette hair, and loved the result so much that she decided to stay blonde ever since. Also in 1956, she played Juliette Hardy in “And God Created Woman,” which catapulted her into international stardom.

In 1957, Bardot appeared in “La Parisienne.” The following year, she appeared in “Les bijoutiers du clair de lune” (“The Night Heaven Fell”), and “En cas de malheur” (“In Case of Adversity”), as well as becoming the highest-paid actress in France. In 1959, she was in “La femme et le Pantin” (“A Woman Like Satan”), “Babette s’en va-t-en guerre” (“Babette Goes to War”), and “Voulez-vous danser avec moi?” (“Come Dance with Me!”). In 1960, Brigitte starred as Dominique Marceau, in “The Truth,” which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film. In 1962, she appeared in “Vie privée” (“A Very Private Affair”), one of her most iconic films. The following year, she co-starred with Jack Palance in “Le Mépris” (“Contempt”). In 1964, she co-starred with Anthony Perkins in “Une ravissante idiote” (“The Ravishing Idiot”). In 1965, Bardot appeared as herself in “Dear Brigitte” alongside Jimmy Stewart, as well as giving a BAFTA-nominated performance in “Viva Maria!.” In 1968, she co-starred with Sean Connery in the Western “Shalako.” In 1970, she appeared in “L’Ours et la Poupée” (“The Bear and the Doll”), “Les Novices” (“The Novices”). The following year, she appeared in “Boulevard du Rhum” (“Rum Runners”), and “Les Pétroleuses” (“The Legend of Frenchie King”). In 1973 she appeared in “Don Juan 1973 ou Si Don Juan était une femme…” (“Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman”) and “L’histoire très bonne et très joyeuse de Colinot Trousse-Chemise” (“The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot”). In that year, Bardot announced her retirement from acting at the age of 39. Since retiring from acting, she’s dedicated herself to animal rights activism.