Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot was born in Paris on 28 September 1934.

She decided to concentrate on a ballet career, but became a model and in March 1950 appeared on the cover of ELLE.

After the international uproar and scandal provoked by the 1956 film ‘And God Created Woman’, Brigitte Bardot said she wished she had never been born.

Now, as Bardot – "the French export as important as Renault cars" according to Charles de Gaulle – turns 75 this year, exhibitions at national museums and private galleries, alongside tributes at fashion weeks in Paris, London and New York, are throwing the spotlight back on to one of the last living icons of the 20th century.

“She was indifferent to the power she had... She didn't really want to be an actress, a singer or a sex symbol, but it just happened that way.” Paul Fournel, French writer and playwright

“She loved living barefoot without a care in the world, and certainly without a care of what people might say about her. All this is very French.” Nicole Farhi, French fashion designer

From the album ‘Bubble Gum ‘, 1964

Moi Je Joue

Moi je joueMoi je joue à joue contre joueJe veux jouer à joue contre vousMais vous, le voulez-vous?De tout cœur Je veux gagner ce cœur à cœurVous connaissez mon jeu par cœurAlors défendez-vousSans tricher, je vous le prometsJ'ai gagné, tant pis c'est bien faitVous êtes mon jouetA présent, ce ne sera plus vous mais toiEt tu feras ca t'apprendraN'importe quoi pour moiSans m'en faire, je vais t'assurerUn enfer de griffes et de crocsTu crieras bientôt "Au secours"Alors décidant de ton sortPour m'éviter quelques remordsJe t'aimerai plus fortOh oui plus fortOh oui oui oui, plus fortOh la la...

Brigitte Bardot

“It is sad to grow old but nice to ripen”