Brigitte Bardot Biography
International sex symbol of the 1950s and 60s. A model turned actress, Bardot appeared in several films before achieving instant stardom in Roger Vadim’s “And God Created Woman” (1956). Though most of her performances have been as a scantily-clad object in routine movies, she has also appeared in several more intelligent films, such as Jean-Luc Godard’s self-referential “Contempt” (1963), in which she plays a character named Camille Javal (her real name).
Bardot retired from the screen in 1974 and has since devoted her time to animal rights causes, leading an increasingly reclusive lifestyle. Her first two husbands were Vadim (1952-1957) and actor Jacques Charrier (1959-1963) and her son Nicholas Charrier is an actor.
- Also Credited As:
Camille Javal
- Born:
on 09/28/34 in Paris, France
- Job Titles:
Actor, Singer, Model, Animal rights activist
Family
- Father: Louis Bardot. deceased
- Mother: Anne-Marie Bardot. arranged for 15-year-old Bardot to model for cover of ELLE
- Sister: Mijanou Bardot. three and a half years younger; married to actor Patrick Bauchau
- Son: Nicolas Charrier. born in 1960; father Jacques Charrier; brought up by in-laws; married in 1984
Significant Others
- Husband: Bertrand d’Ornale. age 51 at time marriage; married on August 16, 1992 in Norway; advisor to right-wing extremist Jean-Marie Le Pen
- Husband: Gunther Sachs. self-styled international playboy; married on July 14, 1966; divorced in 1969
- Husband: Jacques Charrier. married in 1959; divorced in 1963
- Husband: Roger Vadim. married in 1952; divorced in 1957; died February 11, 2000
- Companion: Miroslav Brozek. lived together in the 1970s; Bardot posed for his sculptures
Milestones
- 1952 Film acting debut in “Le trou normand/Crazy For Love”
- 1956 English-language debut in “Helen of Troy”
- 1974 Retired from film
- 1976 Founded Brigitte Bardot Foundation (which folded but was relaunched in 1986)
- 1984 Opened boutique in Saint-Tropez, La Madrague, with profits going to animal causes
- 1987 Auctioned jewels and mementos from her film career to create animal protection foundation
- 1993 Wrote to Pope John Paul II offering to send money over to Africa to care for starving animals; was incensed when he responded that she should send money over to take care of people and that they would tend to the animals; also wrote Russian President Boris Yeltsin over what she called the massacre of seal pups in Northern Russia
- Posed for ELLE magazine at age 15