“And God created woman.” The most fitting title for a woman, a star, a sexy symbol, who for decades embodied the dream of millions of men around the world and whose films – even the indifferent ones – were France’s best export product. OR Brigitte Bardotwho turns 90 today and has lived for years in isolation with her animals and her eponymous foundation for the defense of their rights, rose to fame, became a living legend as early as the 50s, while at the same time bringing about a revolution in women’s emancipation, he contributed to the battle for the conservative and hypocritical mores of the time.

“Bebe” and the emblem of France

“Bebe”, as we called her in her prime, will forever be etched in our memory for the eroticism that radiated from her raised forehead, her beautiful eyes, with her Nazi scornful look, her plump lips, the statuesque her body and will forever be the emblem of France – in 1970 she gave her figure to the famous statue of the French Republic, Marianne.

The star that the camera loved

Brigitte Bardot was no acting beast – just a good actress. But he had this star, which nature hardly gives to people, to bewitch them at once. The cinematographer loved her and the greatest artists made her their muse. Her life, however, did not only have happy moments and satisfaction, but also dramas, difficulties, despair and four marriages, many love relationships and her decision to retire from the show, after 20 years in the artistic firmament and while she was only 39 years.

From riches and ballet to Vadim

Brigitte Bardot was born in Paris, on September 28, 1934, to an industrialist father and a secular mother, who took care of raising her children. Brigitte received a rigorous education alongside her sister, Marie Jean, and from an early age showed great enthusiasm for ballet. In 1949 he will enter the Conservatory of Pariswhile her father, who had a passion for cinema, liked to film her. Her family belonged to high society, and the many acquaintances in the field of theater, cinema and fashion will bring little Brigitte to the magazines ELLE and Le Jardin des Modes, her Helen Lazareffher mother’s close friend. Within a year, Bardot will make her first ELLE cover, while director Marc Alegre will single her out and offer her a role in one of his films. The film was ultimately not made, but thanks to this occasion Brigitte met a new assistant director, Rose Vadimwith whom they fell deeply in love. She was 15 years old and he was 22. Her parents did not approve of their relationship and tried in vain to separate them.

Flashes on the Croisette

In 1952, the director Jean Boyer he will offer her a small role, her first, in his film “Le trou normand” with Burville, while soon after, he will also play in Willy Rosier’s film “Manina la fille sans voiles”. Reaching the age of 18 and while her father will give his consent to marry Vadim, Brigitte will have her first marriage. In 1953 he will appear for the first and last time on the stage, playing Anuig, while he will also appear in the film “Yellow Passport”. But what would drastically change her future is the appearance of the young starlet at the Cannes festival, overshadowing the stars of the time and stealing all the photographers’ flashes on the Croisette. Kirk Douglas will try to take her with him to Hollywood, without success, since there was also the love affair with Vadim.

Liberated sexuality

Thus, after several films, which were steady steps towards recognition, 1956 will come, a landmark year, as Vadim shoots the now classic sentimental comedy “And God Created Woman”, in which he interpreted a liberated girl in a fishing village on the Côte d’Azur and the love that had ignited between the old man Kurt Jurgens and the young Jean-Louis Trentinian. A daring film of the time – the scene where Bebe sunbathing naked behind a sheet will remain forever in our memory – of which Vadim will say that “Jiliette-Brigitte is a girl who shakes off every feeling of guilt, every taboo imposed on her by society”. The film will go almost unnoticed in France, but will be a grand success in the US. Life magazine will characteristically write: “After the Statue of Liberty, no French woman has become so famous in America.” Thus, the film will return as a huge success in Europe and give birth to the new love symbol of cinema.

Learning love from Trentinian

After her separation from Vadim, she will enter into a relationship with Trentinian, one of her most stormy loves. As she had said, “Jean Louis wanted me naked, naked, natural, simple, primitive. He was teaching me classical music, which had replaced the cha-cha on my dressing room record player! He was teaching me intense, complete love! A woman’s dependence on the man she loves…”

No to America and the son

Despising America – he would later say that he loathed everything American – he would continue to make films until it was time to co-star with the holy monster of French cinema Jean Gabin in the scandalous emotional drama “Yvette, the Girl of Debauchery” of Claude Ott Laraa film classic now, for French cinema. In 1959, Bardot will shoot the film “Babbet Goes to War”with Francis Blanche and an actor she demanded to co-star, Jacques Sarrier, whom they married the same year. In 1960 the birth of her son, Nikolas, will become a world event.

Clouseau and the attempt

In 1960 the film will be shown “The Truth” of the maximum Henri Georges Clouzotwho will subject her to grueling filming, which will tire her mentally, combined with the upbringing of her child. At the same time, she will receive a serious blow from the betrayal of her secretary, who will reveal several of her secrets to the press, who will suffocate her, as well as her enraged fans, pushing Bardot to her limits. She will attempt suicide on her birthday, falling into a coma and miraculously surviving.

Contempt

Her cinematic encounter with the “terrible child of the Nouvelle Vague,” Mr Jean Luc Godardbut also the wonderful actor Michel Picoli, will bring her as a protagonist in the legendary film “The Contempt”the best film of her career. Bardot later admitted that she never truly understood the spirit of the film’s masterful script, but that she had fun with it on set.

The melodious Gainsbourg

He will continue to make films, including two with Louis Malle, while in 1966 he will accept the proposal of a German multi-millionaire to marry. Next year she will have a fiery romance with the unconventional Serge Gainsbourgwill become his muse and he will write a dozen songs for her, which will become huge hits.

The retirement and the fourth marriage

In 1973, having completed filming for her last film, after 21 years in the field and unable to bear the overexposure, she will decide to retire permanently from the show and devote herself to her passion for the defense of animals, also establishing a foundation.

On August 16, 1992, Bardot married for the fourth time, in Norway, to Bernard d’Ormalan industrialist, with whom she now lives in seclusion in Saint-Tropez, although some of her statements, such as support for Le Pen’s party, will cause a sensation.

Animals have never betrayed me

Bebe, having experienced everything, will turn to animals, showing her disillusionment with people and her disdain for the image, the surface, all that made her a legend and hurt her beyond repair. As she herself has said: “I have been very happy, very rich, very beautiful, very famous, very famous and very unhappy. Animals have never betrayed me. They are easy prey, as I have been throughout my career. So we feel the same things. I love them.”