Remarkable photos that show the career of the great Brigitte Bardot
Those who lived through the 1950s and 1960s will most likely remember the iconic French celebrity Brigitte Bardot. Also known as “B.B.”, she became famous for her work in acting, modeling, and singing.
Later in life, she decided to leave the entertainment industry behind to become an activist. Read your way through for some retro photos of Bardot during her rise to stardom.
Remembered as a Legend
The world said goodbye to this venerable screen legend on December 28, 2025 when it was announced that Bardot had passed away at the age of 91.
Bardot died of cancer at her longtime home in Saint-Tropez, France, known as “La Madrague” (“The Trap”).
Introducing Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born on September 28, 1934 in Paris, France. She grew up in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, which is one of the most famous buildings in the city.
Her father was an engineer and owner of several factories and her mother was the daughter of an insurance company director.
She Studied Ballet
Growing up during World War II would be tough on anyone, so Bardot found a way to escape her negative thoughts. She took up ballet at age 13 and was admitted to the Conservatoire de Paris.
There, she trained with the legendary Russian choreographer, Boris Knyazev. While Bardot had a charmed childhood, she was looking for ways to rebel.
She Grew Up in the Shadow of War
Bardot was born in 1934 in Paris to a wealthy family, but in her early childhood, Paris was occupied by Nazi Germany.
While her family’s status protected her from the war’s most devastating effects, the occupation ensured that the young Bardot was forced to spend most of her time at home, during which she began dancing to records.
The Start Of Her Modeling Career
After studying ballet, Bardot wanted to try her hand at modeling. By the time she was 15, she became a junior fashion model and worked for Hélène Gordon-Lazareff at Le Jardin des Modes and Elle magazines.
She got her first magazine cover that same year, which helped her get some of her first acting roles.
Her Family Had Mixed Opinions
At the young age of 15, Brigitte Bardot was already a star in the making thanks to an appearance on a magazine cover and acting offers.
Her parents opposed this potential career on the silver screen, but her grandfather voiced his support of her potential, saying that if she were to become disreputable in the end, it would not be because of cinema.
Her First Movie
After appearing on the cover of Elle magazine in 1952, Bardot got her first movie offer. She landed a role in the comedy Crazy for Love.
This was only a small role for which she was paid just a little over five thousand dollars, but it would soon lead to many more acting offers.
A Modest Early Career
While Bardot was established as an actress by the time she turned 20, she was hardly a household name. After her small part in Crazy For Love, she had several more minor roles in the early 1950s.
Of note is her appearance in 1953’s Act of Love. While it wasn’t a major role, she did appear alongside Kirk Douglas in the first Hollywood-financed film of her career.
Meeting Roger Vadim
When Bardot was 18-years-old, she met French director, screenwriter, and producer Roger Vadim. The two fell in love, but her parents were very opposed to their relationship.
Her father bought her a train ticket to leave the country, but Bardot refused. She and Vadim were married soon after.
A Short, But Passionate Marriage
Bardot and Vadim were married on December 20, 1952 at a Paris church. She was 18 and he was 24.
While their marriage was extremely passionate, it didn’t last long. The pair divorced in 1957 and didn’t have children together. However, the two remained in touch and would work together later in life.
She Was Becoming A Star
By 1953, Bardot was recognized enough throughout her native France that reporters noted her presence at the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.
She followed up on this positive buzz with a proper leading role the following year in the Italian film Concert of Intrigue. She also had a lead role in 1954’s Caroline and the Rebels.
Expanding Her Résumé
From about 1952 to 1955, Bardot was breaking into the acting world with small roles in romantic comedies. Then, the late 50s and early 60s brought her some breakout roles.
Fans remember her for leading roles in Naughty Girl, Plucking the Daisy, The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful, and And God Created Woman.
Entering the Mainstream
Aside from one Hollywood-financed film, Bardot had little impact on U.S. cinema in the early 1950s, but that started to change towards the end of the decade.
Bardot found herself in more impactful roles in various French films, and her big star turn came in 1956 with And God Created Women. This went on to become the highest-grossing foreign film ever released in the U.S.
Finally, She Was a Stateside Star
Thanks to the unexpected international appeal of And God Created Women, Bardot was a major star in the United States despite having had very little to do with Hollywood up to that point.
At this point, she was featured in U.S. magazines and was often portrayed as a European version of Marilyn Monroe.
Bardot Created A New Film Archetype
Not only was Bardot becoming one of the most famous actresses in the entertainment industry, but there was something else getting people’s attention.
Critics claim that Bardot created the “enchantress” archetype in movies during this time period after being known for her sultry demeanor. While this made her popular, Bardot would later regret it.
A Strong Comedic Sensibility
In 1961, Bardot expanded her range with a starring role in 1961’s Please, Not Now!, a French-language comedy directed by Roger Vadim.
The film didn’t make much of an impact outside of France, but still demonstrated an early effort by Bardot to avoid being typecast and expand into different kinds of roles.
Going To The Oscars
After starring in several romantic comedies, Bardot wanted to break out of conventional roles. One of her most iconic movies was the courtroom drama The Truth.
It became a massive success worldwide and even earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film. Bardot received a David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actress.
A Second Husband Enters The Picture
While Bardot dated many men after her divorce with Vadim, her next marriage would be with French actor Jacques Charrier.
She became pregnant with their son, Nicolas-Jacques, before they were married. This would be her only child. The couple’s union lasted for about three years until Bardot fell for another man in 1962.
The Paparazzi Hounded Her
It didn’t take long for Bardot to start receiving massive media attention for her modeling and film work. She was constantly surrounded by paparazzi anywhere she went.
While some celebrities can’t stand cameras in their face, Bardot simply blocked them out of her mind. There were other things that were much more important.
Coming To America
All of Bardot’s success in foreign films led to her accepting some roles in Hollywood. Her first American role was a small part in 1965’s Dear Brigitte.
While her name was in the title and the plot was about a boy who had a crush on her, she only made a brief cameo.
Not Everything Was a Hit
By the late ’60s, Bardot was one of the most famous stars on the planet, and seemingly every movie she made was at least a modest success.
However, 1968’s Two Weeks in September — a French-English co-production — ended her streak of success. The film was universally panned by critics and underperformed at the box office.
She Was A Singer, Too
Not only did Bardot become one of the most iconic actresses of the early 20th century, but she became a singer as well.
She performed in several musical shows and also released music. Some of her biggest hits included “Harley Davidson,” “Bubble Gum,” and several other songs in French.
Another Husband Comes Her Way
Bardot was smitten with German millionaire Gunter Sachs and the two were married on July 14, 1966. One of the most romantic things Sachs did for her was having a helicopter spread thousands of rose petals around her St. Tropez home.
However, the two separated a couple years after their marriage and were officially divorced in 1969.
Going Out on Her Terms
With her unique personal brand, Bardot likely could have starred for movies for many decades had she wanted to, but by the early ’70s, she appeared increasingly burned out by Hollywood.
During the filming of 1973’s Don Juan, Bardot confirmed that it would be either her last, or second-to-last movie. True to her word, she appeared in only one more movie, The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot, which was released that same year.
Bardot Isn’t A True Blonde
When fans think of Bardot in her prime, they often picture a blonde bombshell. Most probably didn’t realize that she is actually a natural brunette.
This photo shows her in 1955 with her natural hair just a year prior before she officially went blonde. She decided to ditch her brunette locks for her role in Mio Figlio Nerone.
A Model Pose Was Named After Her
Not only did Bardot make a huge impact on acting and music, but she was an internationally known supermodel.
She even created her own pose. The “Bardot pose” involves sitting with your arms and legs crossed while facing the camera. This was first seen in a 1960 photoshoot and has been copied by many models since.
She Popularized The Beehive Hairstyle
Celebrities tend to be natural trendsetters and Bardot was able to make many fashion firsts throughout her career.
She popularized a hairstyle called the Choucroute, which is more commonly known as a beehive. “Choucroute” actually translates to sauerkraut in French. Bardot would wear her beehive hair in photoshoots, movies, and public appearances.
She Loved These Kind Of Tops
Bardot always made sure to wear the most stylish clothes available, but there was one clothing item she particularly loved.
She could often be seen wearing open-necked tops that ranged from blouses, dresses, sweaters, or T-shirts. Almost no one was doing this during the 50s and 60s because it was considered a bit too risqué.
Living In St. Tropez
Being a star would take a toll on anyone, so Bardot found a place to escape. In 1968, she purchased a property called The Madrague in the French beach town of St. Tropez.
She spent a lot of time there with her third husband Gunter Sachs. St. Tropez became Bardot’s safe place and she would often be there when she wasn’t working.
The Beatles Loved Her
Bardot was a fan-favorite even among other celebrities. The Beatles simply adored Bardot and were set on having her star in their musical film A Hard Day’s Night.
While she was not able to do so, the Beatles remained loyal fans. George Harrison even compared her to his wife, Pattie Boyd.
Why A Ship Was Named After Her
Bardot made a huge impact throughout her career and she earned many important and honorable accolades. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society decided to name a Canadian interceptor vessel after her.
The MV Brigitte Bardot was named not only to honor Bardot herself but to condemn the practice of seal hunting.
She Rarely Saw Her Son
After having a son with her second husband in early 1960, she never really felt a connection to motherhood. She divorced her son’s father when he was only two. Her son was then raised by his father’s side of the family.
Bardot and her son did not really see each other during his childhood and only reconnected when he was an adult.
Going Into Retirement
Some celebrities will have a career well into their golden years, but Bardot had finally had enough. In 1973, a year shy of her 40th birthday, Bardot decided to retire from acting.
She spent much of her downtime in St. Tropez and refused to just sit at home. She had a new calling.
Bardot The Activist
After appearing in over 40 movies and recording many albums, Bardot decided to switch gears to become an animal rights activist.
She started her own animal welfare charity, became a vegetarian, and raised millions of dollars in donations. Also, she married her fourth and current husband in 1992 named Bernard d’Ormale.
She Overcame Adversity At A Young Age
While Bardot may have seemed practically perfect by how she appeared on screen, many fans probably don’t know much about her past.
During her youth, she was afflicted with an ailment called amblyopia. Amblyopia is most commonly referred to as a “lazy eye.” This effected her eyesight, especially in her left eye.
