Brigitte Bardot’s Life in Photos

When Bardot was 15 years old, she began to explore a career in modeling. She appeared on the cover of Elle in 1950 and again later in 1952, both of which brought perspective acting roles.

Bardot was working as a model when she met French director Roger Vadim. The two waited until she was 18 years old to marry (Vadim was 24). The couple had a church ceremony in Paris on December 20, 1952.

The newlyweds are seen embracing as a photographer visits the couple’s apartment in Paris.

Bardot looks every inch the glamorous film star as she makes her way through the crowds at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953, where she was promoting her first American film, Act of Love.

Kirk Douglas, Bardot’s Act of Love co-star, is seen chatting with the French actress on the beach in Cannes.

Bardot continued to earn roles in romantic comedies, but in 1954 the actress branched out with a French adventure movie, Caroline and the Rebels, and an Italian melodrama, Concert of Intrigue.

Bardot landed a coveted role as the handmaiden, Andraste, in Helen of Troy. Here, the actress is seen attempting to push the wheel of the Trojan horse on set.

Bardot is seen on the set of Doctor at Sea while filming in London, England. The film was one of the first non-French films she was in after Act of Love.

Bardot had been appearing in prominent films since her film debut, but her role in her husband’s directorial debut, And God Created Woman, was what ultimately launched her international film career to new heights.

After her role in And God Created Woman, Bardot could hardly walk down the street without being recognized. The sexually explicit movie gained her and her husband director Roger Vadim fame and notoriety.

Bardot looks relaxed in a striped t-shirt and jeans while on location filming La mariée est trop belle (The Bride is Too Beautiful).

After five years of marriage, Bardot and Vadim divorced in 1957. However, the couple remained professionally tied to one another, as Vadim directed Bardot in the 1958 film The Night Heaven Fell.

Bardot traveled to New York in 1957 to film the romantic comedy, The Parisienne.

After her divorce from Vadim, Bardot was linked to French singer Sacha Distel. Here, the couple attends the 19th Venice International Film Festival in 1958. Sadly, they broke up the following year.

Bardot traveled to Sevilla, Spain to film La Femme et le Pantin, which was released in the United States as The Woman. Here, the actress is seen at a flamenco show in Spain.

Although the demand for Bardot’s films in the U.S. were high, the actress appeared in more French than American films. Here she is on set of the film Voulez-Vous Danser Avec Moi? It was released in America as Come Dance With Me.