Brigitte Bardot – OBITUARY

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Brigitte Bardot perfectly represented the classic sex symbol, known for her beautiful, approachable appearance. However, as she aged, she became known for expressing her opinions more and more directly, creating a contrast with her earlier image.

Brigitte Bardot the early years….

Brigitte Bardot was born on September 28, 1934, as Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, and was the elder of two daughters. Her father was a businessman, and she grew up in a wealthy part of Paris. She helped in her mother’s hat shop and was noticed performing there. Having already trained as a ballet dancer for a decade and attended private school, she appeared on the cover of Elle magazine in 1950. This caught the attention of Roger Vadim, then a director’s assistant, who would become her first husband. When her parents opposed their relationship, she attempted suicide, but they married three months after her 18th birthday in 1952. Vadim cast her in his first film, ‘And God Created Woman’ (1956), though she had already made her film debut in 1952 with ‘Le Trou Normand’. Filmed in Saint Tropez, where her family had a house, the movie featured her as a sexually liberated young woman, a bold portrayal for the time. She became known for her blonde hair, dramatic makeup, and youthful appeal. While she admitted her acting skills weren’t her strongest suit, the film was successful in the US, fueled by rumors—which were true—of an affair with her co-star, Jean-Louis Trintignant. This led to her divorce from Vadim in 1957.

The first Brigitte Bardot marriage…..

Brigitte Bardot’s first marriage, to actor Jacques Charrier in 1959, followed relationships with singers like Sacha Distel. However, the marriage occurred because she became unexpectedly pregnant and considered an abortion. Despite Switzerland’s reputation for discretion, she feared the publicity surrounding her fame would make it impossible to keep private. Bardot later accused Charrier of forcing her to have the child, leading to a libel lawsuit filed by him. Given these circumstances, it’s understandable that their son, Nicolas, maintained a somewhat distant relationship with his mother.

At 26, she tried to end her life again. She was found unconscious in a field after taking an overdose of sleeping pills, reportedly because she was upset about her co-star, Sami Frey, with whom she appeared in the 1960 film ‘The Truth’. That same year, 1962, also marked the end of her second marriage with a divorce.

In 1966, she married Gunter Sachs, a photographer known for his extravagant gestures—he famously dropped flowers on her from a helicopter. He’d actually proposed as a wager, and the marriage lasted only three years, ending in 1969. During this time, she had a well-publicized affair with Serge Gainsbourg, and together they recorded the provocative song ‘Je T’aime’.

The film career draws to an close…..

By the late 1960s, Brigitte Bardot’s films were largely unremarkable, with only ‘Shalako’ (1968), featuring Sean Connery and Eric Sykes, standing out slightly. Her personal life had become more captivating to the public than her work, and she was growing tired of the attention she received. At 34, she was beginning to outgrow her ‘sex kitten’ image, but lacked the desire to change it. After appearing in 40 films, and just before turning 40, she retired from acting. Her final starring role was in ‘Don Juan,’ directed by her first husband, Roger Vadim.

Animal welfare career…..

Brigitte Bardot had been a passionate advocate for animal rights since the 1960s, and after retiring, she dedicated her life to public campaigning against practices like whaling, factory farming, seal hunts, bullfighting, fur trapping, animal testing, and the horse meat trade. Through this work, she met wildlife TV presenter Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, and they began a relationship after a chance encounter at an airport. It was her first romance in seven years, but unfortunately, it ended when he found her increasingly depressed. This deeply affected Bardot, and on her 49th birthday, she attempted suicide.

Brigitte Bardot’s passion for animal welfare led her to establish her own foundation in 1986, which she funded by selling items from her acting career. In 1992, she married Bernard d’Ormale, who was an advisor to Jean-Marie Le Pen, the leader of the National Front. They remained married until her death.

The court cases begin……

She publicly supported Marine Le Pen’s presidential campaigns and openly expressed controversial views on topics like homosexuality, immigration, and race, detailing her life and relationships in a biography she wrote over many years. This outspokenness led to legal troubles in her later life, with substantial fines levied against her for comments criticizing halal slaughter and for anti-Muslim and anti-immigration statements. By 2008, she had been convicted on the same charges five times.

While she became famous for her movies, her true passion was helping animals. She once explained that she had dedicated her early years to her career and relationships, but now wanted to use her life experience to benefit animals. Through her foundation, she’s provided care for 12,000 animals across 70 countries.

Brigitte Bardot died on 28th December  2025 aged 91 years of age

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2026-01-02 03:24