Photos Showing Brigitte Bardot, from the Very Beginning
Brigitte Bardot was an icon of the times, and she loved it. Her dreams of becoming a ballerina quickly turned into something much bigger when she realized the power she had on the big screen with her first French films. She took France and the world by storm with her beauty and sexual freedom, conquering everyone from movie directors to French philosophers, men, and women all over the world.
Her film career spanned a few decades full of movies where she was the center of attention, but she was also a fashion icon that people couldn't get enough of. She pursued different arts and worked with some of the most prestigious names in France and the rest of Europe, and after retiring from acting, she kept herself relevant with different endeavors.
At 91, here are some photos showing Brigitte Bardot from the very beginning to understand the story behind the French icon.
Unmistakable Smile
Brigitte Bardot was born in Paris, France, in 1934, and from very early on, she wanted to be a star.
A girl with a dream
She was raised in a conservative Catholic family, which probably affected her acting and modeling careers in many different and unexpected ways.
Ballerina
In her childhood, she wanted to be a ballerina, which was a common aspiration among French girls. However, fate had other plans for her.
And God Created Woman (1956)
Her breakout role was in Roger Vadim's movie And God Created Woman. Vadim was Bardot's husband at the time, and her role caught the attention of lots of French men, especially intellectuals.
Always a Ballerina
She never stopped her dance lessons and was part of prestigious academies in France.
Center of Attention
Her characters in movies were sexy girls always looking for pleasure, so she was always seen as a symbol of freedom. She was an instrumental part of the sex revolution.
Leg Photoshoot
As a ballerina, her legs were often the center of attention during her many photoshoots and even specific scenes in movies.
The Look
Her look conquered men all over the world and stopped the world in its tracks with every new photoshoot.
Standard of Beauty
She really set the bar for beauty at the time.
Regular Next Door Girl
She had the ability to look like a goddess and like a regular, everyday girl.
The Lolita Syndrome
French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir wrote the 1959 essay The Lolita Syndrome, describing her as a "locomotive of women's history."
Complete Artist
She acted in 47 films, performed in music theatre, and even released more than 60 songs. She got many awards for her work, including a BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actress.
Fashion Icon
She also had a modeling career that made her a fashion icon, especially during the '60s.
The Moment
She sported many different looks across the decades, and all of them looked great on her.
Dream Girl
She had everything she needed to be a Bond girl, but rejected the role to star in Shalako alongside Sean Connery, right when he was replaced as the secret agent by George Lazenby.
Honoured
She received many honours after she retired from acting in 1973, including the Legion of Honour, many Medals of French cities, and even an 8.2 ft statue.
B.B.
Her movie career was short but very impactful for French cinema.
Retired Life
After retiring from acting in 1973, she became an animal rights activist, another side of her that earned her many different awards.
Book Writer
While there are many works done on her career and legacy, she also wrote five books after retiring.
B.B. Today
At 91 years old, Brigitte Bardot isn't unanimously liked by French people due to her controversial political views.
