Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot Headshot

Actress • Singer • Model

Birth Date: September 28, 1934

Age: 89 years old

Birth Place: Paris, France

With a coquettish allure like no other actress of her time, Brigitte Bardot became a member of a rare club - that of foreign-language stars who attain international success on the silver screen. Bardot's sultry appeal made her a star in Europe in the 1950s. With the international success of "Et Dieu Crea la Femme" ("And God Created Woman") (1956), Bardot became an international star. Credited with popularizing the bikini, Bardot was unlike any American star of her era, save perhaps Marilyn Monroe. Bardot brought more to the film world than just sex appeal, however; her popularity proved to be a key factor in establishing a market for foreign films in English-speaking countries. Bardot would go on to age gracefully in her native land and become one of the most outspoken advocates of animal rights, proving she was always much more than a beautiful face and muse of inspiration for everyone from musicians to filmmakers to fashion designers.

Born Sept. 28, 1934 in Paris, France to Anne-Marie Mucel and wealthy industrialist, Louis Bardot, the future star was raised in Paris. Encouraged to study music and dance at an early age, Bardot focused on ballet, studying under Russian choreographer Boris Knyazev for three years; she was later accepted as a student of Paris' Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in 1947. At the age of 15, Bardot took up modeling, appearing in the fashion magazine Jardin des Modes and later landing the coveted cover of Elle in March of 1950. Bardot's cover-shot caught the eye of young film director Roger Vadim who brought Bardot to the attention of his friend, director Marc Allégret. The model was soon offered an audition for Allégret's film "Les Lauriers sont coupés." Though Bardot landed the role, the film never went into production, but she had made a lasting impression on Vadim - the pair went on to marry in 1952, much to the dismay of Bardot's parents who had tried to keep the couple apart until Bardot's turned 18. Bardot made her film debut the same year in Jean Boyer's comedy "Le Trou Normand" ("Crazy for Love") (1952) and went on to appear in supporting roles in a number of French films thereafter.

Bardot went on to make her American film debut in "Act of Love" (1953) starring Kirk Douglas and went on to appear in Warner Brothers' epic "Helen of Troy" (1956). Though she was offered a seven-year contract with the studio, Bardot declined and returned to France to film Marc Allégret's "Futures Vedettes" ("Joy of Loving") (1955). Next, Bardot appeared in the British comedy, "Doctor at Sea" (1955) and landed her first starring role in "La Lumiere d'en Face" ("Female and the Flesh" (1956). Still a rising star, Bardot next appeared in a number of popular French films including "Cette Sacree Gamine" ("Naughty Girl") (1956), "Mi Figlio Nerone" ("Nero's Mistress") (1956) and Allégret's "En Effeuillant la Marguerite" ("Plucking the Daisy") (1956).

As Bardot's career began to take off, Vadim was offered the chance to direct his wife in "Et Dieu Crea la Femme" ("And God Created Woman") (1956). As the coy, sexy Juliette Hardy, an orphan whose beauty has caught the eye of all St. Tropez's men, Bardot made the leap to international stardom. Exuding an uninhibited sexuality unlike any American actress of the time - even Monroe, who skewered more toward a babyish, dumb blonde persona - the film cemented Bardot's status as a sex symbol worldwide. Though her career was at its peak, Bardot's personal life had hit a low point. The actress had an affair with her "Femme" co-star Jen-Louis Trintignant and, inevitably, her marriage to Vadim ended in 1957, though Bardot and Vadim maintained a professional relationship long after. In spite of any personal issues, Bardot would never deny that it was Vadim who had discovered her and changed her life's direction forever.

Now popular in America - a rare thing for a non-English speaking actress - Bardot was offered a reported $225,000 three-picture deal with Columbia. She starred in the French comedy "Une Parisienne" (1957) and followed it with the Vadim-directed "Les Bijoutiers du Clair de Lune" ("The Night Heaven Fell") (1958). Bardot was next slated to appear opposite Frank Sinatra in the Vadim-directed "Paris by Night" but the project eventually fell through. She next starred in "Babette s'en va-t-en Guerre" ("Babette Goes to War") (1959) opposite French actor Jacques Charrier, whom Bardot went on to marry that year.

With Charrier, Bardot gave birth to her first and only child, Nicholas-Jaques Charrier on Jan. 11, 1960 - an experience that Bardot did not enjoy. Her personal life again tumultuous - her marriage to Charrier was much publicized and the pair was constantly hounded by paparazzi - Bardot hit yet another low point emotionally. On her 26th birthday, she attempted suicide for the second time during production on Henri-Georges Clouzot's crime drama "La Verite" ("The Truth") (1960). Bardot completed the film, which became one of the highest grossing films in France the year it was released and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Bardot's personal life proved to be less successful - her marriage to Charrier ended in divorce in 1962 and her son, Nicholas, was raised by the Charrier family following the divorce.

Attempting to get her life back on track and expand her creativity, Bardot branched out into a singing career in the 1960s, releasing the pop album Inside Brigitte Bardot in 1960, followed by Brigitte Bardot Sings in 1963. Bardot also collaborated on a number of popular singles with singer Serge Gainsbourg, whom she also dated. She continued to act as well, starring in ex-husband Vadim's "Le Repos du guerrier" ("Love on a Pillow") (1962) and opposite Marcello Mastroianni as a movie star hounded by the paparazzi in the somewhat autobiographical Louis Malle film, "Vie Privée" ("A Very Private Affair") (1962). Knowing her sex kitten heyday was coming to a close, Bardot withdrew from the public eye for a brief time following the release of "Privée" but returned to the screen in 1963 to star in Jean-Luc Godard's acclaimed "Le Mépris" ("Contempt"). For all of Godard's acclaim as a filmmaker, "Mépris" received mixed reviews at the time of its release. Bardot continued to act, however, and went on to appear as herself in the American film "Dear Brigitte" (1964) starring James Stewart and in Louis Malle's "Viva Maria!" (1965), opposite Jeanne Moreau.

Bardot's box office appeal had been in slow decline for some time, with her next hit not coming until "L'Ours et la Poupee" ("The Bear and the Doll") in 1970. After filming "L'Histoire très bonne et très joyeuse de Colinot Trousse-Chemise" ("The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot") in 1974, Bardot retired from acting. Instead, she devoted the rest of her life to political causes - most notably, animal rights. In 1986, Bardot auctioned off a number of her own personal belongings to found the Brigitte Bardot Foundation - an organization devoted to the welfare and protection of animals. Outspoken about animal rights for many years, Bardot became known for her militant stance on the topic. Bardot's outspoken political and personal views garnered negative attention as well - she was convicted four times for "inciting racial hatred" in numerous interviews and publications. A 1998 comment in her book Le Carre de Pluton - about the growing Islam population in France - landed her a fine of 30,000 francs. Bardot received another fine of €5,000 in 2004 for similar anti-Muslim comments as well as four years later, when she was convicted of inciting racial hatred for the fifth time after speaking out against the Muslim ritual slaughter of animals - specifically, sheep. Through the years, Bardot also received criticism for negative comments about the gay community and racially mixed marriages. Whether one agreed or disagreed, there was no denying Bardot had an opinion and voiced it, unlike many of her fellow sex symbols who came either before or after her 1950s-60s reign.

Credits

Brigitte Bardot l'insoumise

Self
Show
2023

Aujourd'hui Madame

Guest
Show
2022

Vadim, Mister Cool

Narrator
Show
2017

Le Grand Cactus

Guest
Invité/guest
Show
2015

Cinépanorama

Guest
Show
2014

Hollywood Invasion

Actor
Herself (archive footage)
Movie
2011

Gainsbourg and His Girls

Actor
Movie
2010

1960

Self
Movie
2010

Hollywood on the Tiber

Self
Movie
2009

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten

Actor
Movie
2007

Et Dieu créa Vadim?

Actor
Show
2006

Cinéma

Actor
Show
2001

L'histoire très bonne et très joyeuse de Colinot Trousse-Chemise

Actor
Arabelle
Movie
1973

Ms. Don Juan

Actor
Jeanne
Movie
1973

Boulevard du rhum

Actor
Movie
1971

The Legend of Frenchie King

Actor
Louise
Movie
1971

The Novices

Actor
Agnès
Movie
1970

Les Novices

Actor
Agnès
Movie
1970

Las Mujeres

Actor
Movie
1969

The Women

Actor
Clara
Movie
1969

L'Ours et la poupée

Actor
Movie
1969

Brigitte Bardot

Self
Show
1968

Shalako

Actor
Irina Lazaar
Movie
1968

Spirits of the DeadStream

Actor
Giuseppina
Movie
1968
86%

Two Weeks in September

Actor
Cecile
Movie
1967

Viva Maria

Actor
Maria I
Movie
1965

Dear BrigitteStream

Actor
Herself
Movie
1965

Dear BrigitteStream

Self
Movie
1965

Une ravissante idiote

Actor
Penelope `'Penny'` Lightfeather
Movie
1964

El Deprecio

Actor
Movie
1963

Le parti des choses : Bardot et Godard

Actor
Movie
1963

Contempt

Actor
Camille Javal
Movie
1963
92%

El Veredicto

Actor
Movie
1962

A Very Private Affair

Actor
Jill
Movie
1962

El Reposo del Guerrero

Actor
Movie
1962

Warrior's Rest

Actor
Geneviève Le Theil
Movie
1962

Le repos du guerrier

Actor
Geneviève Le Theil
Movie
1962

El Amor Es Asunto Privado

Actor
Movie
1962

Please Not Now!

Actor
Sophie
Movie
1961

Babette Goes to War

Actor
Babette
Movie
1960

Le Testament d'Orphée

Actor
Elle-même
Movie
1960

The Truth

Actor
Dominique Marceau
Movie
1960

Come Dance With Me!

Actor
Virginie Dandieu
Movie
1960

Voulez-vous danser avec moi?

Actor
Virginie Dandieu
Movie
1959

La femme et le pantin

Actor
Movie
1958

The Night Heaven Fell

Actor
Ursula
Movie
1958

Love Is My Profession

Actor
Yvette Maudet
Movie
1958

Una parisina

Actor
Movie
1958

Her Bridal Night

Actor
Chouchou
Movie
1957

Les bijoutiers du clair de lune

Actor
Movie
1957

That Naughty Girl

Actor
Brigitte Latour
Movie
1957

Mademoiselle Striptease

Actor
Agnès Dumont
Movie
1956

La mariée est trop belle

Actor
Chouchou
Movie
1956

Mio figlio Nerone

Actor
Poppea
Movie
1956

Cette sacrée gamine

Actor
Brigitte Latour
Movie
1956

The Light Across the Street

Actor
Olivia Marceau
Movie
1956

And God Created WomanStream

Actor
Juliete Hardy
Movie
1956
38%

Cette Sacrée Gamine

Actor
Movie
1955

Les Grandes Manoeuvres

Actor
Lucie
Movie
1955

Helen of Troy

Actor
Andraste
Movie
1955

Doctor at Sea

Actor
Hélène Colbert
Movie
1955

Caroline and the Rebels

Actor
Pilar d'Aranda
Movie
1955

Tradita

Actor
Anna
Movie
1954

Concert of Intrigue

Actor
Anna
Movie
1954

Futures vedettes

Actor
Sophie Dimater
Movie
1954

Le portrait de son père

Actor
Domino
Movie
1953

Act of Love

Actor
Mimi
Movie
1953

Girl in the Bikini

Actor
Manina
Movie
1952

Crazy for Love

Actor
Javotte Lemoine
Movie
1952

Le Trou normand

Actor
Javotte Lemoine
Movie
1952