BRIGITTE BARDOT

From blond bombshell to animal rights activist to controversial public figure, we explore the life of the iconic French star

- REPORT: ALISON EASTWOOD

She was a pop-culture icon whose influence was unmistakable long after she quit the movie industry at a young age. More than a screen legend, Brigitte Bardot embodied a carefree spirit and effortless allure that reshaped ideas of beauty, freedom and femininity.

After her passing on Dec. 28 at age 91, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, led the tributes. “We mourn a legend of the century,” he wrote, honouring a woman whose image and attitude became inseparable from modern French identity.

A SHINING STAR

Born in Paris in 1934, Brigitte was trained in classical ballet from childhood, developing the poise and grace that would later become part of her undeniable screen presence. Early modelling work brought her in front of the camera, and it wasn’t long before filmmakers took notice. Her breakthrough came in 1956 with And God Created Woman - a role that turned her into an international sensation and heralded the arrival of a new kind of star. The movie’s success catapulted her onto the global stage, while her image — sun-kissed, barefoot, unapologetic — travelled far beyond cinema screens.

By the late 1950s and early ’60s, Brigitte was everywhere. Her tousled blond hair, winged eyeliner and off-the-shoulder silhouettes influenced fashion in ways that still resonate today. She inspired designers, photographers, artists and editors, not by following trends but by appearing entirely at ease with herself. As she later told