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.
you are not serious. That’s not her is it? Obviously too much sun.
Personally, While i thought Marilyn was a bombshell, I adored Brigitte. In my adolescence, She was the epitome of feminine pulchritude. Curvy, yet petite...And oh, that face..that face *without* makeup, was enchanting beyond words...Just call me Erasmus. 8oP~~~~
At least she has good teeth..............
Oh for Pete’s sake, she looks like a 73 year old woman.
When women and men age they get wrinkles, sagging jowels and deep crevaces in their faces.
they often gain weight and their skin becomes crepe-like in texture.
They have age spots.
Life is not tv.
This is not Brave New World ...yet.
What did you expect?
and let's use a photo that's not touched up K? 
Well, I’m 73 too and I cerainly don’t look like I did when I was in my twenties. It happens to all of us - sooner or later.
Bo Derick has aged most splendidly too.
The comments on this thread are both sad and disgusting. I’m sure all of you are going to look 30 at 73. Really bad form to comment on her looks instead of her accomplishments.
Yes, and if she has one more facelift she will have a goatee.
I dont know why Freepers in particular are so cruel about aging. It is a very conservative concept to respect grey hairs and wrinkles and the wisdom that it often carries.
Brother! Jugemental catty women here who cannot tell the difference between real life and memorex.
LOL! I never heard that before....It fits though.
For some odd reason I want too smoke and drink milk.....
Bingo! I agree. What is Brigette supposed to do? Hide out because she is now an old woman?
I kind of felt bad for her, all the old men were upset because she is an old woman, not an equally old man!
Proof why they always tell you to look at the Mom when considering marriage.
Amen.
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.
She sounds like she has a lot of class and self acceptance.
Its easy to tell them apart.
Hold a flashlight behind AB’s head, you’ll see a glow....(chuckle)
My 73-year-old mom doesn’t look anywhere near as old as she does!
My 73-year-old mom doesn’t look anywhere near as old as she does!
My 73-year-old mom doesn’t look anywhere near as old as she does!
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