Posted on 09/28/2007 11:07:15 AM PDT by traumer
n her heyday she was an international sex symbol who starred in a series of hit films including The Girl in the Bikini.
Nowadays, however, Brigitte Bardot has an altogether more sombre public image.
The former actress and model, who turns 73 tomorrow, was wearing a dark business suit while in her home city of Paris to visit French president Nicolas Sarkozy today.
The star was happy to relinquish her status as sex bomb in 1974 and focus on issues closer to her heart Enlarge the image
Rather than strutting provocatively as she did during a hugely successful screen career, she was on crutches because of a nagging hip complaint.
Gone was the trademark pout and cascading blonde locks, to be replaced by sagging jowls covered in heavy make-up and a wiry, unkempt patch of greying hair.
Miss Bardot still lives close to St Tropez, the beach resort in the South of France where she first shot to fame in 1956 with And God Created Woman, and has often blamed excessive exposure to the sun for her poor skin.
Her torrid private life - including numerous failed marriages and affairs - have also been blamed for her frayed appearance as a pensioner.
"She certainly doesn't look like the Brigitte we all remember from the films," said another visitor to the Elysee Palace, where animal rights campaigner Miss Bardot discussed the plight of Canadian seals with Mr Sarkozy.
"One wouldn't say she's aged well," the source added.
Miss Bardot has also repeatedly shunned plastic surgery, making it clear that her days as an international beauty ended when she made her last film in 1974.
Today she said that all she was concerned about was animals threatened with cruelty around the world. "I've had my best birthday present when I turn 73, and that's the news that France is going to definitely refuse all imports of products derived from seals, as France refuses to be compliant in the annual massacre of seals in Canada," she said.
An embargo on such products was announced by the French government in April.
After becoming a star following "And God Created Women", made by her then husband Roger Vadim, Miss Bardot became known as a French cinematic sex kitten who could rival Marilyn Monroe.
She was also an acclaimed model and recorded pop songs with the singer Serge Gainsbourg.
After divorcing Vadim, Bardot was married three more times, as well as having numerous affairs.
In 1986, she set up the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals, launching legal challenges against governments and other institutions to acknowledge the rights of animals. She later ignited controversy with her marriage to a political activist from the far-Right Front National party.
Precisely.
I’ll take a smart woman any day of the week. However, we are talking about the marked disparity between youth and age for someone whose sole claim to fame was physical beauty. Had she been an assistant to Schroedinger or aided Bardeen, Shockley, and Brattain, then appearance would not be an issue because it would not be the focus.
Besides, her current appearance is likely due to factors other than age. Case in point, my maternal grandfather looked 90 when he was 60. Why? He smoked like a chimney and spent most of his life outdoors in harsh, direct sunlight. I have other relatives who looked 40 when they were 70. Folks age differently and for different reasons.
Maybe, but looking at #210, is it normally that cold in your morning bedroom???
Damn........
LOL
As if anyone goes from age 19 to 73 without looking like they've been through the wringer. It's what age does to you. Some do better than others, of course, but what aging does to you is to a very large degree genetic. So we all need to get over what she used to look like. That's ancient history. We'd do best to concentrate on her ecclectic politics. At least she isn't 100% loopy left.
The lady has guts.
True. Still, if I had her money, I'd do something about myself. It's not healthy to be 50+ lbs overweight.
Posters are having a grand time attacking Bardot’s looks. She is SEVENTY THREE YEARS OLD, for God’s sake. She chose not to have plastic surgery and dye jobs. Does that look like the face of a mean woman, or a bitter woman? I think not. SO if she chooses not to even try to look like a botox queen, I say mazel tov.
Sure do. :o)
Nice comedy, and with the scenes with Brigitte at the end of the movie...Yum! I’ve tried to find it on DVD but so far, it’s only been released on VHS as far as I know. She was at the peak of her beauty at that time, as far as i’m concerned. And that bedroom scene with her showing off her exquisite legs...
ARRRRRRRRGH!!! My eyes!
You’re right Hildy....and we all get old and die.
Folks should remember that.
Bardot was hell on wheels in her day ...beauty-wise
That poster of her in the black bikini on the yellow chopper hung in my bedroom as a 12 year old
One more face lift and Ms Nancy will be sporting a goatee...
We get it! We heard you the first time!
Jeez!
The degeneration in this goddess from aging just proves to me we have to seriously work to stop this plague of aging. I'd make it a national research goal to really go after aging, along with mass private enterprise. It could be the biggest industry ever, because everyone would need all the medications and treatments continually.
It could be one of this centuries advancements by mankind, like vaccines, antibiotics and cures for diseases were in the last century. I doubt I'll live to see it, but if my children or grandchildren could be spared from the scourage I would be glad to give that gift!
“Have we all looked at ourselves lately? Eveyone gets old.
Live with it. In the next 20 years, none of us will be anyone’s prize”
Know exactly what you mean. I still feel like a kid and then I look in the mirror and wonder who the old guy is. I applaud her for just being comfortable with herself. She spent years trying to live up to everyone elses expectations. She is retired, she doesn’t have to sell herself anymore.
She is lucky with her present looks. I started out bad and have gotten badder at the age of 69 - due to be a real mess when I reach 70.
“I understand that she’s also a vocal critic of the ‘Islamification’ of France.”
I’ve seen that, too.
I’ll second that.
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