Brigitte Bardot was once one of the most beloved celebrities. Today, she is a grandmother and has enjoyed a rich and fulfilling life. If you’re curious about her granddaughter, who has taken a similar path, then keep reading…
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born on September 28, 1934, in France. At just 15 years old, she started her modeling career, which was nothing short of remarkable. She had dreams of becoming a ballerina, and during her teenage years, she graced the cover of Elle magazine.
Before long, she attracted the interest of many. Starting her acting career in the 1950s, during the European post-war era, Brigitte emerged as a sex symbol. Her performance in And God Created Beauty in 1956 catapulted her to significant fame.
Originating from a prosperous family of industrialists, she viewed herself as ‘ugly’ in her youth, never envisioning that she would evolve into a timeless sex symbol.
“I come from a respectable family and was raised with great care. However, there came a day when I decided to leave it all behind and embrace a bohemian lifestyle,” she later remarked.
Her initial significant role in English came when she played the romantic lead opposite Dirk Bogarde in Doctor at Sea. During the mid-1960s, she devised a plan to achieve fame, aiming for an international breakthrough.
The French native made her Hollywood debut in 1966, but winning over the American audience proved challenging, and the film (Dear Brigitte) didn’t achieve significant success.
With her long blonde hair, perfect skin, alluring lips, and curvy figure, Brigitte was certainly hard to miss. However, her films in Hollywood did not perform well and were considered box-office failures. Expectations were high when she appeared alongside Sean Connery in the Western film Shalako, yet the 1968 release garnered mixed reviews.
In 1973, Brigitte surprised many fans by announcing her retirement. She remained a prominent star and was still very active in the entertainment scene.
However, this was also the reason she chose to step back: the overwhelming pressure of celebrity life ultimately became too much for her.
Most great actresses have faced tragic fates. When I parted ways with this career, this life filled with luxury and glamour, the constant attention and admiration, the desire to be wanted, I was actually saving my own life,” Bardot shared with The Guardian.
“At first, I relished the attention and the conversations about me, but it soon became overwhelming and ultimately destructive. During my two decades in the film industry, every time I started a new project, I would break out with herpes.”
After stepping away from her career, she withdrew from the public eye and became a recluse.
Nevertheless, Brigitte found the strength to rise again and chose to channel her fame into positive endeavors. Thirteen years post-retirement, she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
Her passion for animals began in 1962 when she was just 28 years old.
“She didn’t receive much love from her parents, and when we began our relationship, she preferred a dog over jewelry,” Roger Vadim, the director of And God Created Beauty and Brigitte’s first husband, shared with People.
He continued: “She always had an aversion to fame, power, and anything associated with success. The purity and sincerity of animals brought her comfort.”
The organization advocates for animal rights and has accomplished a great deal over the years. For instance, the foundation backs conservation initiatives. It has also funded a wildlife hospital in Chile and established facilities for abused bears in Bulgaria, koalas in Australia, and elephants in Thailand.
Currently, Brigitte Bardot is 88 years old, and her legacy remains strong.
In 2020, Vogue recognized Brigitte as one of “The most beautiful French actresses of all time.”
The 88-year-old screen icon and former blonde bombshell set new fashion trends with her hair and makeup – which is why she is considered one of the most iconic faces, models, and actresses of the 1950s and 1960s.
Reports indicate that she resides in the French coastal town of La Madrague. The former star is married to Bernard d’Ormal, a prosperous businessman. They have been together since August 16, 1992, when they exchanged vows in Norway.
Brigitte remains a passionate and active animal rights advocate. In a Vogue interview, she was asked what motivates her to rise each morning.
“The suffering of animals,” she replied.
“You might be aware that walking has become quite challenging for me lately. I can no longer enjoy long walks or swimming. However, I consider myself fortunate when I think about the suffering animals endure. The numerous letters I receive daily highlight the terrible conditions that animals continue to face.”
On January 11, 1960, she welcomed her son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier into the world. She had him with actor Jacques Charrier, her second husband. Bardot had consistently expressed her lack of interest in motherhood. She once remarked, “I did not want to give birth to another human being. I believe there are already too many on this planet, and they frighten me.”
“I now think that it can be learned. But back then, it was quite painful,” she reflected. She shared her thoughts on motherhood in her book titled Initialed BB, published in 1996.
She likened her pregnancy to a tumor, stating, “It felt like a tumor that had sustained me, that I had carried in my swollen body, only anticipating the blessed moment when we would finally be free of it.”
Brigitte Bardot and her son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier
Posted by Celluloid Heroes on Thursday, August 11, 2016
Upon giving birth and meeting her baby for the first time, she recalled telling the midwives, “I drive crazy, I did not want to see it anymore.”
In 1963, after her divorce from Jacques Charrier, she allowed him to have full custody and showed no interest in being part of his upbringing. As Nicolas grew older, he lived a life that remained unknown to his mother. He married Norwegian supermodel Anne-Line Bjerkan in 1984 and had two children, but he chose not to invite his mother to the wedding.
There was no contact between them until 1996, when a court case brought them back into each other’s lives. After reading his mother’s book, Initialled B.B., he was taken aback by the revelations within. He and his father subsequently took Bardot to court for violating their privacy, with the second claim being for infringement of intrauterine intimacy.
As a result, Bardot was ordered to pay 150,000 francs to her ex-husband Jacques and 100,000 francs to her son, Nicolas.
In 2014, she remarked, “I had a son who didn’t trigger a significant maternal instinct in me – it’s not my fault…”
Her son enjoys a fulfilling life in Norway, where he resides with his daughters, Anna-Camilla and Thea-Josephine.
However, in 2009, things took a turn as the actress chose to reconnect with her estranged son. “Our relationship was difficult during Nicolas’s childhood. It was painful for both of us,” she shared.
He continues to live in Norway but makes an annual trip to visit Bardot in La Madrague, France. Sometimes he comes alone, and other times he brings his family. During these visits, Bardot gets to spend time with her granddaughters and even her great-grandchild.
She has grown quite fond of her son, stating, “I love him in a unique way. He doesn’t resemble me. Physically, he took after his father.”
It’s heartening to see that Brigitte has finally mended her relationship with her estranged son. Feel free to share this story with other fans of the actress so they can learn more about her life!
