Brigitte Bardot

Tradita - Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot Venice 1958

Brigitte Bardot - Screenland (March 1959)

Brigitte Bardot 1961

Brigitte Bardot em visita ao Brasil, 1964

Mepris-Italie-1963

Brigitte Bardot (born 28 September 1934) is a French former actress, singer, and fashion model, who became an international icon in the 1950s and 1960s. Bardot was one of the best-known sex symbols of this era. She first received attention as a model and then as an actress, starring in several popular films that emphasized her looks and sexuality. Bardot's impact on fashion and film is significant, and she has been credited with popularizing the bikini and making St. Tropez a famous resort destination.

Early Life

Brigitte Bardot was born in Paris, France, to Louis Bardot and Anne-Marie Mucel. Bardot grew up in an upper-middle-class, Roman Catholic household. She was initially interested in ballet and attended the Conservatoire de Paris. Her beauty and grace soon caught the attention of the fashion world, and by the age of 15, Bardot was appearing on the cover of magazines, leading to her first film offers.

Career

Bardot's acting career began in 1952 with a role in the film Le Trou Normand. However, it was the 1956 film And God Created Woman directed by Roger Vadim, her then-husband, that catapulted her to international fame. The film's release was controversial due to its sexual content, but it also established Bardot as a symbol of female sexual liberation.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Bardot starred in numerous films, including Contempt (1963) and Viva Maria! (1965). Her film roles often emphasized her sex appeal, and she became known for her distinct look, which included her blonde hair and gap-toothed smile.

In addition to her acting career, Bardot also had a brief but successful stint as a singer, releasing several albums and singles during the 1960s and 1970s. Her music career included collaborations with Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she recorded the hit song "Je t'aime... moi non plus."

Personal Life

Bardot's personal life has been as publicized as her career. She was married four times, first to director Roger Vadim, then to actor Jacques Charrier (with whom she had her only child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier), German millionaire playboy Gunter Sachs, and finally to Bernard d'Ormale, a former adviser of the National Front, the far-right political party in France.

Activism

After retiring from the entertainment industry in 1973, Bardot dedicated herself to animal rights activism. She established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals in 1986 and has been vocal in her criticism of the fur industry, bullfighting, and the treatment of farm animals. Bardot's activism has sometimes courted controversy, particularly her outspoken comments on immigration and Islam in France, which have led to legal action against her.

Legacy

Brigitte Bardot's legacy in film, fashion, and popular culture is enduring. She is credited with popularizing the bikini and has been a fashion icon for decades. Bardot's influence extends beyond her film career and fashion; she is also recognized for her role in advancing animal rights.