Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born on September 28, 1934
in Paris, Île de France, France. She studied ballet as a teenager at the
National Superior Conservatory of Paris for Music and Dance and appeared on the
cover of France's Elle magazine at the age of 15. She was discovered by
screenwriter and future filmmaker Roger Vadim, and the two wed in 1952. Bardot
made her big-screen debut that year as well, in “Le Trou Normand”. Various
roles followed, including as a romantic leading lady in “La Lumiere d'en Face”
(1954) and a handmaiden in “Helen of Troy” (1955).
Brigitte Bardot and Vadim divorced in 1957, but
maintained a professional relationship, as he directed her 1958 film “The Night
Heaven Fell”. Bardot was featured in other projects as well like “The
Parisienne” (1958), “La Femme et le Pantin” (1959) and “Come Dance With Me”
(1959). During the making of the 1960 film “La Verité”, however, Bardot
attempted suicide on her 26th birthday. Decades later the actress would talk
about how nightmarish the world of celebrity had become and the pressures
inherent in constantly aiming to display a certain image.
Bardot starred in three Euro-westerns: “Viva Maria!
(1965) as Maria Fitzgerald O’Malley, “Shalako” (1968 (as Countess Irina Lazer)
and “The Legend of Frenchie King” (1971)
as Louise ‘Frenchy’ King.
During the 1960s, Bardot embarked on a career as a
musical artist as well, releasing albums like Brigitte Bardot Sings (1960) and
Special Bardot (1968). She also recorded hits with French
vocalist/songwriter/lounge-man Serge Gainsbourg.
Ultimately having appeared in dozens of films, Bardot
retired in 1973 and went to live in St. Tropez. She has subsequently devoted
her life to animal activism.
Today we celebrate Brigitte Bardot’s 80th
birthday.
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