Brigitte Bardot Biography

Brigitte Bardot was born on September 28, 1934 in Paris, France. Coming from a strict Catholic upbringing, she already expressed interest in music and dance at a young age, and because of her mother’s full support, Brigitte Bardot was able to model for Elle magazine at the tender age of 15. She made her film debut in the movie Crazy for Love in 1952. Before that she already became involved with director Roger Vadim. They married the same year after she celebrated her 18th birthday, and after five years, they divorced.

Brigitte Bardot became one of the few European actresses who received huge attention from the American audiences. She also rose to be a sex kitten opposite Marilyn Monroe, played bit parts in English-language movies such as Doctor at Sea, Helen of Troy, and Act of Love starring Kirk Douglas. At the same time, her French language films were dubbed for the international audiences. In 1959 she married actor Jacques Charrier, and the following year she gave birth to her only son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier. During this time her roles became more substantial making her more mature as an actress. In the latter part of the sixties, she divorced Charrier and married German millionaire Gunter Sachs, whom she stayed with for three years.

She became known not just an actress but also a trendsetter. Brigitte Bardot popularized the bikini swimwear as well as the monokini, which was nearly considered scandalous in the United States. She joined the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy in setting up the fashion during the decade, and thus became one of Andy Warhol’s inspirations for his works.

In 1973, a few months before turning forty, Brigitte Bardot announced her retirement from show business and chose to be an animal rights advocate. In 1986, she sold her properties to establish the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, a non-profit organization that works for animal rights throughout the world. Brigitte Bardot has been very much vocal about her views in animal welfare issues, especially in France.

Not only is she an animal rights advocate but a political activist as well. Brigitte Bardot is an active supporter of the far right, and in the recent years, she has been reprimanded and fined by the French government for ‘inciting hatred’ with her views. She is vocal about her opposition to the third sex, interracial marriages and the increase of Muslims in France.

Brigitte Bardot is married to the former adviser of the Front National, Bernard d’Ornal, since 1992.