The amazing Brigitte Bardot at 80

Just mention the name Brigitte Bardot and conversations would stop and images of St Tropez, bikinis and sunglasses would immediately spring to mind.

That was the show-stopping power of French-born Bardot at her amazing peak in the 1950s and 60s, when even her initials BB were enough to raise temperatures.

On September 28, she’ll be 80 and as passionate and sometimes feisty as ever.

Some say she’s a recluse but she’s denied this vigorously.

“I’m not a recluse,” she said. “I’m a private person. For years my face was everywhere but for some time now, I’ve mostly wanted to keep it to myself except for special occasions.”

She’s right. For years her face was everywhere and not just her face!

When she starred in And God Created Woman in 1956, her career suddenly changed.

She had wanted to be a ballerina but instead she turned to modelling and some film work, mostly in comedies.

These were low-budget films but by the time her big opportunity came along, she was ready.

At the time of its release, the film was condemned by many societies, who thought it was quite shocking. However, critics generally had a different view, one reporting that it was: “lively and easy on the eye with Bardot posturing as a sex kitten in various stages of undress.”

The people who really mattered the public loved it and as a result, Bardot herself became a sex object, an icon of sexual liberation.

“I knew that this film was going to be a little controversial but in a way that made it all the more exciting,” she said.

“I wasn’t ashamed of being looked at with little on and the role demanded it. It was a very sexy film but it was also a tragedy and it was not just for posing but for acting.

“By today’s standards, it was not too bad but at the time it broke new ground.

“There were complaints from some societies who branded it immoral but it was also applauded by many and set a new style for others to follow. I was very proud of the film and I still am.”

Bardot shot to international fame almost overnight and what followed was a string of successful films, photo shoots, sponsored promotions and headline news everywhere she went.

She was the world’s No 1 Goddess.

Although her eagerly-anticipated films just grew and grew and her co-stars became more and more legendary Sean Connery and Kirk Douglas among them none of those films were bigger than Bardot herself.

Despite her international fame, she mostly resisted the lure of Hollywood.

“I was always very European and I didn’t want to move myself to Hollywood,” she said.

“I did not see any point. I was happy making European films and if I was to make a film in America or Australia or wherever, I could just go and stay for a while. I didn’t need or want to move permanently to anywhere outside Europe.”

In fact, she loved St Tropez and bought a mansion there in the late 1950s. It’s still her favourite part of the world.

As well as her films, Bardot became a recording artiste and had some success, too, with an unexpectedly-perfect voice for romantic songs.

Away from the limelight, Brigitte Bardot has had four husbands Roger Vadim, Jacques Charrier, Gunter Sachs and Bernard D’Ormale, to whom she’s been married since 1992.

She keeps her distance from the public eye unless she feels it’s going to do some good for someone or something, especially animals.

Having officially retired from the film and music industries in 1973, Brigitte threw herself into being a champion for animal rights and has used her public face to highlight many campaigns to benefit wildlife.

“I like to give animals a voice,” she said.

“Humans do terrible things to each other but they also do terrible things to animals.

“Persecuted humans have a chance to protest but animals do not. They deserve better and I do feel that I must try to help if I see or hear of something wrong.”

Brigitte has also courted controversy by airing her non-politically-correct views on various touchy human situations, especially on immigration, which she believes should have tighter controls.

What a life she’s had and is still having. She has no plans to slow down.

“I retired from the film industry because I’d had enough,” she said.

“I am not planning on retiring from life, though.

“I haven’t had nearly enough of that.

“I enjoy my privacy but I also still like to make a difference where I can.

“If there is nothing to say I will be silent but if something needs saying I will say it.

“Reaching another milestone does not stop the journey.”

But Brigitte Bardot will live forever in our minds as the lady who flirted with the world, almost seemed to invent the bikini and did her first Playboy nude photo-shoot at the age of 40. She broke many barriers and the world has loved her for it ever since.

“I like to think I was a good actress,” she said. “I did not pretend to be a classic actress but I hope that I was good.

“You might think that because men turned their heads to look at me that I would be hated by women but in fact it was never like that.

“Women liked me as well because it gave them ideas on how to get their husbands’ attention and make life fun.”

It’s hard to believe Brigitte is about to turn 80. She looks well and still has that look in her eye that can’t be ignored.

Forever she will be BB, the girl in the bikini who melted a million hearts with just one look.