Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot (born September 28, 1934 in Paris) is a French actress and model, daughter of an industrialist. Also known simply as BB ("Bri-Bri" in childhood) she is considered the embodiment of the 1950s "sex kitten."

In the 1970s Bardot established herself as an animal rights activist. During the 1990s her controversial and outspoken political views on such issues as immigration, Islam, and homosexuality greatly affected her reputation.

Career

Bardot's beauty and natural sensuality began to show as a teenager and in 1952, she appeared on screen for the first time in Le Trou Normand. That same year, at age 18, she married director Roger Vadim, with whom she had been romantically involved for several years. Divorced from Vadim in 1957, she married actor Jacques Charrier (1959-62), German millionaire playboy Gunther Sachs (1966-69), and French right-wing politician Bernard d'Ormale (1992-present).

Bardot also had notorious relationships with Serge Gainsbourg (singer), Sacha Distel, and Jean-Louis Trintignant (actor).

She has one child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier (born 1960).

Bardot starred with Trintignant in Vadim's film And God Created Woman, which pushed the boundaries of sex in film at the time, making her an overnight sensation. To this day, the scene of Bardot dancing barefoot on a table remains one of the most erotic scenes in the history of the cinema.

She is one of the few European actresses to receive mass media attention in the United States, still a "sex kitten" to this day. She and Marilyn Monroe were the icons of female sexuality in the 1950s and 1960s. Whenever she made public appearances in the United States, her every move was covered by a horde of media. Her first American made film was 1954's Un acte d'amour co-starring Kirk Douglas. In 1965 she appeared as herself in the Hollywood production Dear Brigitte starring Jimmy Stewart. Because her English was limited, many of her films were released in the U.S. with her voice dubbed over.

She is recognized for popularizing bikini swimwear, appearing in it for photographers numerous times. She even sported an early version of the monokini (topless bikini) from time to time (though this was not considered extraordinary in France, where nudity on beaches is common, it was considered nearly scandalous in the US).

Retirement

In 1974, just before her fortieth birthday, Bardot announced her retirement. After appearing in more than fifty motion pictures, and recording several music albums, most notably with France's "bad boy" of music, Serge Gainsbourg, she chose to use her fame to promote animal rights. She is accused of being a misanthrope and preferring the company of animals to that of men. In 1976 she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Protection of Distressed Animals. Today, she is one of the world's most influential animal rights activists and a major opponent of the consumption of horse meat.

She is also one of the most celebrated supporters of Jean-Marie Le Pen of the right-wing Front National political party, with which her husband is associated. With the publication of her 2003 book, A Scream in the Silence, the reclusive Bardot has come under considerable fire for racist, anti-Muslim, and anti-gay comments. In May 2003, The MRAP ("Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l'Amitié entre les Peuples" - Movement against racism and for the friendship of peoples) announced that it would sue Bardot for her published views. Another organization, The "Ligue des Droits de l'Homme" (League of Human Rights), announced that it was considering similar legal proceedings.

Bardot, in a letter to a French gay magazine, wrote in her defense, "Apart from my husband—who maybe will cross over one day as well—I am entirely surrounded by homos. For years they have been my support, my friends, my adopted children, my confidants."

On June 10, 2004 Bardot was convicted by a French court of "inciting racial hatred." She was fined 5,000 € (US$6,000) and it is the fourth such conviction/fine she has faced from French courts. These recent fines pertain to her aforementioned book. In particular the courts cited passages where Bardot referred to the "Islamization of France" and the "underground and dangerous infiltration of Islam." (France's 5-million member Muslim community is the largest in Europe.) In the book she also referred to homosexuals as "fairground freaks," and she condemns the presence of women in government. Bardot's previous comments that led to convictions included ones encouraging civilian massacres in Algeria.

See also: Marianne

Quotation

  • "She is the princess of pout, the countess of come hither. Brigitte Bardot exuded a carefree, naïve sexuality that brought a whole new audience to French films." Time Magazine
  • "Well, my telephone rang it would not stop, / It's President Kennedy callin' me up. / He said, "My friend, Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?" / I said, "My friend, John, Brigitte Bardot, / Anita Ekberg, / Sophia Loren." / (Put 'em all in the same room with Ernest Borgnine!)" -- Bob Dylan, I Shall Be Free, The Freewheelin Bob Dylan, 1963

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See also: Marianne. Linda Blair has long been active in charities involving prevention of cruelty to animals such as PETA. Bardot's previous comments that led to convictions included ones encouraging civilian massacres in Algeria. In the late 1990s, Blair won wide acclaim for her performance in the stage revival of Grease. In particular the courts cited passages where Bardot referred to the "Islamization of France" and the "underground and dangerous infiltration of Islam." (France's 5-million member Muslim community is the largest in Europe.) In the book she also referred to homosexuals as "fairground freaks," and she condemns the presence of women in government. In 1990, she spoofed her "Exorcist" character in the film Repossessed that also starred Leslie Nielsen. These recent fines pertain to her aforementioned book. During the early 80's she had a passionate relationship with the popular singer Rick James, but left him when she could no longer handle his drug addiction.

On June 10, 2004 Bardot was convicted by a French court of "inciting racial hatred." She was fined 5,000 € (US$6,000) and it is the fourth such conviction/fine she has faced from French courts. Blair's career went into decline afterwards and she appeared in many minor films often with a horror theme. For years they have been my support, my friends, my adopted children, my confidants.". She also had a featured role in the disaster film Airport '75. Bardot, in a letter to a French gay magazine, wrote in her defense, "Apart from my husband—who maybe will cross over one day as well—I am entirely surrounded by homos. A controversial movie due to the actress's age, the tagline of the film was "She was born innocent, but that was fourteen years ago.") and Sarah T...Portrait Of A Teenage Alcoholic. Another organization, The "Ligue des Droits de l'Homme" (League of Human Rights), announced that it was considering similar legal proceedings. Following the success of this film, Blair appeared in the controversial television films Born Innocent (in which Blair portrays a girl sent away to face the brutal life of a women's prison.

In May 2003, The MRAP ("Mouvement contre le Racisme et pour l'Amitié entre les Peuples" - Movement against racism and for the friendship of peoples) announced that it would sue Bardot for her published views. Blair had originally planned to be a doctor but was offered The Exorcist role. With the publication of her 2003 book, A Scream in the Silence, the reclusive Bardot has come under considerable fire for racist, anti-Muslim, and anti-gay comments. Linda Blair began her career as a young child modelling and then moved into commercials. She is also one of the most celebrated supporters of Jean-Marie Le Pen of the right-wing Front National political party, with which her husband is associated. She did not receive the Academy Award for the role and it is thought that this was due in part to the fact that her voice was dubbed and a dummy was used in many scenes. Today, she is one of the world's most influential animal rights activists and a major opponent of the consumption of horse meat. and its first sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic.

In 1976 she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Protection of Distressed Animals. Linda Blair (born January 22, 1959) is an American actress famous for her role as the possessed child in The Exorcist. She is accused of being a misanthrope and preferring the company of animals to that of men. Fatal Bond, (1991). After appearing in more than fifty motion pictures, and recording several music albums, most notably with France's "bad boy" of music, Serge Gainsbourg, she chose to use her fame to promote animal rights. Repossessed, (1990). In 1974, just before her fortieth birthday, Bardot announced her retirement. The Chilling, (1989).

She even sported an early version of the monokini (topless bikini) from time to time (though this was not considered extraordinary in France, where nudity on beaches is common, it was considered nearly scandalous in the US). Up Your Alley, (1989). She is recognized for popularizing bikini swimwear, appearing in it for photographers numerous times. Witchery, (1988). with her voice dubbed over. Grotesque, (1988). Because her English was limited, many of her films were released in the U.S. Savage Streets, (1984).

In 1965 she appeared as herself in the Hollywood production Dear Brigitte starring Jimmy Stewart. Chained Heat, (1983). Her first American made film was 1954's Un acte d'amour co-starring Kirk Douglas. Hell Night, (1981). Whenever she made public appearances in the United States, her every move was covered by a horde of media. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977). She and Marilyn Monroe were the icons of female sexuality in the 1950s and 1960s. Airport '75, (1974).

She is one of the few European actresses to receive mass media attention in the United States, still a "sex kitten" to this day. Born Innocent (1974, TV movie). To this day, the scene of Bardot dancing barefoot on a table remains one of the most erotic scenes in the history of the cinema. The Exorcist (1973). Bardot starred with Trintignant in Vadim's film And God Created Woman, which pushed the boundaries of sex in film at the time, making her an overnight sensation. She has one child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier (born 1960).

Bardot also had notorious relationships with Serge Gainsbourg (singer), Sacha Distel, and Jean-Louis Trintignant (actor). Divorced from Vadim in 1957, she married actor Jacques Charrier (1959-62), German millionaire playboy Gunther Sachs (1966-69), and French right-wing politician Bernard d'Ormale (1992-present). That same year, at age 18, she married director Roger Vadim, with whom she had been romantically involved for several years. Bardot's beauty and natural sensuality began to show as a teenager and in 1952, she appeared on screen for the first time in Le Trou Normand.

During the 1990s her controversial and outspoken political views on such issues as immigration, Islam, and homosexuality greatly affected her reputation. In the 1970s Bardot established herself as an animal rights activist. Also known simply as BB ("Bri-Bri" in childhood) she is considered the embodiment of the 1950s "sex kitten.". Brigitte Bardot (born September 28, 1934 in Paris) is a French actress and model, daughter of an industrialist.

/ He said, "My friend, Bob, what do we need to make the country grow?" / I said, "My friend, John, Brigitte Bardot, / Anita Ekberg, / Sophia Loren." / (Put 'em all in the same room with Ernest Borgnine!)" -- Bob Dylan, I Shall Be Free, The Freewheelin Bob Dylan, 1963. "Well, my telephone rang it would not stop, / It's President Kennedy callin' me up. Brigitte Bardot exuded a carefree, naïve sexuality that brought a whole new audience to French films." Time Magazine. "She is the princess of pout, the countess of come hither.