Saint-Tropez’ most famous resident has not only eked out a place in the collective memory as a screen siren of unparalleled magnetism but as a woman who has lived many lives, each more fascinating than the last.

BB, Bébé, The Eternal Teenager, La Madrague… A beloved person has many names, so the saying goes, and the list of endearing nicknames for Brigitte Bardot is long. And each of them represents a phase on her way through the world that she left her trace on over the past nine decades. From her early days as a Parisian ingénue to her rise as an international movie star, and later her passionate work as an animal rights advocate, Bardot’s life is a tapestry woven with beauty, controversy, and an unyielding determination to live on her own terms, well worthy of reflection on the eve of her 90th birthday.

Early Life: From Ballet Slippers to the Silver Screen

Born on September 28, 1934 in Paris, Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot’s family lived a comfortable bourgeois existence. Her mother, a homemaker with an eye for fashion first introduced Brigitte to the world of art and beauty, enrolling her in ballet classes at the tender age of seven. Bardot quickly excelled, eventually training under the renowned Russian choreographer Boris Knyazev. By the time she was a teenager, Bardot was poised to join the ranks of France’s most promising ballet dancers.

However, fate had other plans. A chance encounter with a fashion magazine editor led to Bardot’s first modeling job at 15. With her blonde hair, pouty lips, and a demeanor that was both innocent and sultry, Bardot soon became a fixture on the covers of magazines. This exposure caught the eye of filmmaker Roger Vadim, who would not only play a pivotal role in launching her film career but also become her first husband.

The Film Career: From Starlet to Global Icon

Bardot’s film debut came in 1952 with a small role in “Le Trou Normand.” But it was Vadim’s 1956 film, And God Created Woman (Et Dieu… créa la femme), that catapulted her to international stardom. Bardot’s portrayal of the free-spirited, uninhibited Juliette Hardy shocked audiences and set the tone for the sexual revolution of the 1960s. She was not just a sex symbol; she was a symbol of liberation, a woman unafraid to embrace her desires in a way that was both provocative and empowering.

BB’s electric on-screen presence, a combination of vulnerability and sensuality, made her irresistible – men coveted her, women aspired to be like her. She went on to star in over 40 films, including La Vérité (1960), Le Mépris (1963), and Viva Maria! (1965), working with some of the most influential directors of the time, including Jean-Luc Godard and Louis Malle.

Her screen partners were a Who’s Who of cinema’s leading men: Jean Gabin, Marcello Mastroianni, Alain Delon, and Sean Connery.

During this period, she also married and divorced three of her four husbands, and had her only child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier (b. 1960). This son would however largely be raised by his grandparents, partly due to her hectic work schedule, partly because she simply did not feel emotionally equipped to be a mother.

While BB became an international superstar and was known worldwide, she chose to focus her career on European cinema, particularly French and Italian films. Despite her global fame and offers from Hollywood to star alongside some of the biggest names in American cinema at the time, she deliberately avoided working in the American film industry, preferring instead the artistic freedom and creative environments offered by European filmmakers and being more comfortable working in her native language. Her decision to remain in Europe contributed to her image as an independent, free-spirited artist who prioritized her personal and artistic integrity over commercial success.

However, despite her success, BB was never fully comfortable with the demands of stardom. The constant scrutiny of her personal life with a string of husbands and lovers, the pressures of being a sex symbol, and the grueling pace of filmmaking took a toll on her well-being.

Retirement: Stepping Away from the Limelight

In 1973, at the height of her fame, Brigitte Bardot shocked the world by announcing her retirement from acting. She was only 39 years old, but she had already lived through a lifetime’s worth of public adulation and personal turmoil. Bardot later confessed that she had grown tired of the superficiality of the film industry and longed for a simpler, more meaningful existence.

Her decision to retire was not just an escape from the pressures of stardom; it was a rejection of the very system that had made her famous. Turning her back on Hollywood, the press, and the glitzy lifestyle that had come to define her, she instead, she sought solace in nature and animals, trading her glamorous image for a more subdued, introspective life.

 
She withdrew to her personal sanctuary at La Madrague, a property on the beach of Saint-Tropez which she had purchased 15 years earlier, in 1958, as an escape from the paparazzi and public eye. At the time, Saint-Tropez was still a relatively quiet fishing village, far from the bustling tourist destination it would later become. Here, she could enjoy the company of her pets and pursue her passions far away from the prying eye of the camera. She took up painting as a hobby, creating vivid, colourful works that she often gave as gifts to friends. Her paintings, much like her films, reveal a side of Bardot that is passionate, expressive, and deeply personal

Here, she also dealt with tragedy such as her breast cancer in 1984 and the loss of several close friends and confidants to illness and death. But La Madrague would also be a happy base for her life with her fourth husband Bernard d’Ormale, to whom she is still married to this day.

While her presence in Saint-Tropez contributed to transforming the town into a fashionable destination for artists, celebrities, and jet-setters, she herself always sought to maintain her privacy and connection to the simpler, more authentic aspects of the locale.

A New Chapter: The Animal Rights Advocate

Bardot’s love for animals was well-documented even during her film career, but it wasn’t until she retired that she truly dedicated herself to the cause. Not content with just finding cats and dogs new homes, she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals (FBB) in 1986, using her fame and fortune to advocate for those who could not speak for themselves.

FBB quickly became one of the most influential animal rights organizations in the world. Bardot’s activism has led to significant changes in French law, including the banning of seal fur imports and the outlawing of the force-feeding of geese for foie gras production. She has campaigned tirelessly against the fur trade, bullfighting, and the inhumane treatment of animals in slaughterhouses. Her efforts have not been without controversy; Bardot’s outspoken nature and sometimes inflammatory remarks have drawn criticism, but her commitment to animal rights has never wavered.

Her foundation continues to operate, funded largely by Bardot herself, who sold many of her personal belongings, including jewelry and properties, to support its activities. The foundation’s work extends beyond France, with projects in countries as diverse as Brazil, Senegal, and India. Bardot’s advocacy has inspired countless others to take up the cause, and her influence can be seen in the growing global movement for animal rights. But she also uses her considerable clout as an influencer to support fellow activists, currently lobbying heads of states for the liberation of Canadian environmentalist and animal rights activist Paul Watson from prison.

An Exhibition in Saint-Tropez in BB’s Honour

To pay tribute to such a unique personality, especially on such a milestone birthday, the Linda and Guy Pieters Foundation in Saint-Tropez is currently hosting a photo exhibition through September 22. It showcases photographs by Ghislain “Jicky” Dussart, Bardot’s close friend and personal photographer, who captured her beauty and essence over two decades. Beginning his career with Paris Match, Dussart met Bardot in 1953, eventually becoming her official photographer. His work, featured in magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Life, and Playboy, played a pivotal role in shaping Bardot’s iconic image, portraying her elegance, charisma, and the deep bond they shared.

Other photos by the same artist are displayed open-air around town, including on the lighthouse.

A Long Life Lived on Her Terms

As Brigitte Bardot celebrates her 90th birthday in September, she remains a figure of immense cultural significance and a multifaceted legacy. Her impact on popular culture is undeniable. She redefined femininity in a way that challenged societal norms and paved the way for future generations of women to express their sexuality freely. Her film work is among the best that French cinema has to offer.

Bardot has always been a woman of contrasts: a sex symbol who eschewed glamour, a public figure who craved privacy, and a superstar who chose a life of activism over adulation. But the true strength of her character is shown in her decision to step away from the spotlight at the height of her fame to follow her desire to live authentically, free from the constraints of public expectation.

 
BB… Bébé… Brigitte Bardot will forever be remembered as the French woman who redefined beauty and femininity. At 90, Brigitte Bardot is not just the former talented actress, not just a pioneer for the women of her generation, and not just an animal activist – she is first and foremost a testament to the power of living a life true to oneself. RIVIERA BUZZ wishes the iconic Grande Dame good health and much joie de vivre for the years to come.

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Visit the exhibition at
Fondation Linda et Guy Pieters
28 Boulevard Vasserot
(Places des Lices)
83990 Saint-Tropez
+33 4 22 84 01 89
+33 4 94 43 41 33
info@fondationlgp.com
Open every day 10 AM – 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM – 6 PM / Closed on Sundays and Mondays

Lead image by Céréales Killer – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link; photo of La Madrague by Toutaitanous — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, Lien; photo of Fondation Brigitte Bardot by Yeuxpapilon – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link