Brigitte Bardot

NAME Brigitte Bardot

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Brigitte Bardot is famous as a French actress, model, and singer, known for her iconic beauty and her roles in classic films of the 1950s and 1960s. She later became a vocal advocate for animal welfare.

BIRTH Brigitte Bardot was born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, France.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Bardot came from a middle-class family. Her father, Louis Bardot, was an engineer and the proprietor of several industrial factories in Paris.. Her mother, Anne-Marie Mucel, was the daughter of an insurance company director.

CHILDHOOD Bardot grew up in Paris and had a passion for dance and ballet from a young age. Bardot studied ballet and was known for her beauty.  At 15, she appeared on the cover of Elle magazine, launching her modelling career.

EDUCATION She attended local schools in Paris and studied ballet at the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris left formal education at a young age to pursue a career in entertainment.

CAREER RECORD Brigitte Bardot rose to fame as an actress. Her resume reads: 

Achieved international stardom with her role in the film And God Created Woman (1956).

Appeared in over 40 films throughout her career.

Won the David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress for her role in Life as It Is (1962).

Retired from acting in the 1970s to focus on animal activism.

Founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals in 1987.

APPEARANCE Bardot was known for her stunning beauty, characterized by her blonde hair, full lips, and sultry gaze.

Publicity photo of Brigitte Bardot in A Very Private Affair.

FASHION Bardot became a fashion icon, known for her effortless style and influence. She popularized the "Bardot neckline," a style that exposes the shoulders, and bikini swimwear, appearing in it for photographers numerous times.

CHARACTER Bardot was known for her free-spirited and rebellious nature, often challenging societal norms through her lifestyle choices. She was described as independent and outspoken.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Bardot had a playful and sometimes sarcastic sense of humor, which was evident in her interviews and public appearances.

RELATIONSHIPS Brigitte Bardot's romantic life was as famous, or perhaps even more famous, than her film career. Married four times, her husbands included actors, directors, and a playboy millionaire.  Her most publicized relationship was likely with Serge Gainsbourg, a controversial French singer, with whom she had a tumultuous but creatively inspiring partnership. Despite multiple marriages and relationships, Bardot has also spoken about her enjoyment of solitude and independence.  

MONEY AND FAME Bardot, together with Marilyn Monroe, was the icon of female sexuality in the 1950s and 1960s. Whenever she made public appearances, her every move was covered by a horde of media.

Bardot achieved significant wealth and fame during her career as an actress and model. She later expressed frustration with the pressures of celebrity.

FOOD AND DRINK Bardot has been vocal about her love for animals and adopted a vegetarian diet later in life.

MUSIC AND ARTS Bardot also pursued a career in music, releasing several successful albums in the 1960s.She recorded more than 60 songs, many in collaboration with Serge Gainsbourg, including the 1968 single "Comic Strip."

Brigitte Bardot wasn't exactly warming the benches of obscurity when an Elle magazine's cover in 1950 landed her a film debut in a flick called Le Trou Normand. Who knew a single photo could launch a rocket like that?

By 1957, she was an international sensation thanks to her role in And God Created Woman. Bardot played a free spirit who ruffled feathers and sent French intellectuals into a tizzy. The nickname "sex kitten" stuck faster than gum on a shoe.  She even snagged a David di Donatello award for Best Foreign Actress for her work in The Truth a few years later.

Bardot flitted from film to film, working with big names like Jean-Luc Godard and Louis Malle.  French President Charles de Gaulle even declared her a national treasure, as important for France's image as a shiny new Renault.

LITERATURE While not a prolific writer, Bardot has been the subject of numerous biographies and books about her life and career. Simone de Beauvoir famously wrote about Bardot in her essay The Lolita Syndrome., which built upon existentialist themes to declare her the first and most liberated woman of post-war France

NATURE Bardot is an outspoken animal rights activist and has been involved in various campaigns to protect animal welfare.

In 1973, Bardot decided to gracefully exit stage left, retiring from acting. Since then, she's become a champion for animals, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to fight for their welfare.  Seems the sex kitten with a wild streak grew into a passionate protector of creatures great and small.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and horseback riding.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Bardot's interests are primarily in the arts and entertainment fields, with less focus on science and mathematics.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY She has expressed philosophical views on topics like freedom and individualism, often reflected in her public statements. Her later activism suggests a strong empathy for living creatures.

SCANDAL Her portrayal of sexually suggestive characters and lifestyle choices caused controversy in her early career. 

Bardot has been involved in several scandals throughout her life, including legal issues related to animal rights activism and controversial statements.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS She has faced health challenges in recent years but remains active in advocating for animal rights.

HOMES France has always been Bardot's home base. She lived primarily in Paris, the city of her birth, and Saint-Tropez, a glamorous resort town on the French Riviera. Saint-Tropez became associated with her image in the 1960s, and she reportedly owned a villa there for many years.

TRAVEL She has traveled extensively for work and leisure, often visiting exotic locations.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Brigitte Bardot's most prominent appearances in media are of course her films. She starred in over 40 films throughout her career, many of which achieved international recognition. Documentaries explore her life and influence, and she has been photographed countless times, solidifying her status as a cultural icon. Her image has also been used in advertising and other media.

ACHIEVEMENTS Beyond her status as a major film star, Bardot's achievements include:

Pioneering a new image of female sexuality on screen. Her portrayals of uninhibited characters challenged social norms and paved the way for greater representation of female sensuality in cinema.

Her enduring status as a cultural icon. Even decades after retiring from acting, Bardot's image and influence continue to resonate in fashion, film, and popular culture.

Founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals. This organization has made significant contributions to animal rights activism, reflecting Bardot's deep commitment to animal welfare. her contributions to film, fashion, and animal rights activism, making her an enduring cultural icon.