Brigitte Bardot was born on September 28, 1934 in Paris, France. Her father had an engineering degree and worked with his father in the family business. Her mother was 14 years younger than Brigitte's father and they married in 1933.
Bardot's mother encouraged her daughter to take up music and dance which she proved to be very adept at it. By the time Brigitte was 15 years old, she was attempting to model, finding herself in the French magazine Elle. Her beauty readily apparent, Brigitte soon attempted films.
In 1952, actress appeared on screen for the first time as Javotte Lemoine in "Trou normand, Le" (1952). Two others followed and it was also the same year she married Roger Vadim. The two had known each other years earlier and she wanted to marry him when girl was 17, but her parents squashed any marriage plans until she turned 18. The union lasted only five years.
Based upon her success in French films Bardot made her first US production in 1953 in "Un acte d'amour" (1954) with Kirk Douglas. Back in France afterwards Brigitte continued to star in French productions. The fascination of her in the US consisted of magazines photographs and dubbed over French films.
Brigitte was and always would be a totally French product. Nonetheless, she was extremely popular in the USA. In 1965, she appeared as herself in the US made "Dear Brigitte" (1965) with James Stewart. She only appeared in one scene. Just before she turned 40, Brigitte retired from movies after filming "Histoire tres bonne et tres joyeuse de Colinot Trousse-Chemise, L" (1973). She prefers life outside of stardom.
While it enabled her to become internationally famous, it also carried with it annoyances. It wasn't anything for her to have "fans" enter her house or onto the grounds in the hopes of getting a glimpse of her or to take something that belonged to her. Paparazzi constantly hounded her with their cameras. She has been so soft hearted that some people even have taken advantage of her generosity.
After her life in the spotlight, Brigitte went on to become a leading spokesperson for animal rights and started the "Foundation Brigitte Bardot" dedicated solely to that cause. Her work in that realm is, perhaps, far greater than any film she could have made.
