From Film Siren to Fashion Icon: Brigitte Bardot’s Enduring Influence

French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot (1934 to 2025) revolutionized the concept of the cinema screen siren during the 1960s while leaving an indelible mark on fashion. Her bombshell looks, signature French girl chic, and iconic informal gingham wedding dress designed by Jacques Esterel — a commission notably declined by Yves Saint Laurent — set trends for young women in Europe and America. Known as B.B., WWD frequently featured her before she retired from acting in 1973 and became a recluse. Whether blonde or brunette, Bardot captivated the fashion world for decades — despite controversy about her far right views.

In this article, taken from the pages of WWD of Nov. 16, 1965, Brigitte Bardot gives a rare and candid glimpse into her life, passions, and other topics.

WWD followed her career the moment she made news. Paris… 71 Avenue Paul Doumer. . .a banal house from that pretty-bad period of the 1930s, built for the typical “petit bourgeois” of the 16^th arrondissement.

THERE LIVES OUR “MONSTRE SACRE” —BRIGITTE BARDOT.

Brigitte’s den — on the top floors — is all warmth and coziness. . .more like a doll’s house, like a jewel box, a Duplex made of tiny “chambres de bonnes” (maid’s rooms). The small entrance is nearly full, with an osier birdcage covered with paper flowers, a quiet, colorful parrot in it. An inside winding staircase leads to a round salon…red walls covered with books, paintings, drawings and photos of B. B. . . .a huge flower made of yellow paper. . .a guitar. Small comfortable sofas in burgundy red velvet with tiny green cushions. . .a large low round table with a bunch of white flowers.

The floor is covered with a tapestry carpet made of multicolor flowers on black background. Logs crackle in the fireplace. The television is on, the record player, too. . .but you only hear good jazz and the actors are mute on the small screen.

BRIGITTE COMES IN

. . .with that kittenish natural grace that fascinates. She wears bell-bottom sailor pants, navy sweater, walks in her navy socks. Her blond slick hair frames her face, falls naturally on her shoulders and makes a luminous spot on her dark outfit.

 SHE SITS WITH HER LEGS TUCKED UNDER HER.

The way she moves is perfection. She talks with simplicity, kindness, with waggish accents of a Parisian kid.

“Here, je suis bien…it’s my hole, my earth, my refuge. I have done all the decoration by myself and I just cannot move, however I tried my best. You know, two years ago I bought a superb apartment on the corner of Rue du Bac and Boulevard St. Germain…I spent a fortune in money, patience and imagination to decorate it…the moving day came and when the removers arrived here, I canceled everything. I am like that…I hate things who change and also I hate things which do not change. Also, as I cannot go out much, I spend my time moving the furniture, just for a change. In fact, I live like I want to, as far as I can…but ‘ca fair souvent des drames’. . .[she laughs] . . . ‘j’ peux pas prendre sur moi’. . . cannot disguise my feelings, I cannot have any discipline. . .tant pis.”

TANT MIEUX. . . BRIGITTE BARDOT IS BRIGITTE BARDOT. . .IF SHE DID NOT EXIST ONE SHOULD HAVE TO INVENT HER. SHE JUMPS TO HER FEET AND HELPS TEA.

“I feed myself with tea. . .I drink 200 cups of tea a day… hmmm, that makes a lot. . .but really 80, with lots of milk and sugar…that finishes by being a real food, no? Of course, that keeps me from sleeping. . but who cares? At the moment, when I don’t work, I go to sleep at any time, as well as six in the morning. . . and, is it forbidden to wake up at four in the afternoon? I play the guitar when I feel like it, or I sing, je m’ amuse, I learn, I read.”

 SHE HOLDS UP A SCHOOLBOOK OF PHILOSOPHY.

“J’fais ma philo. . .funny isn’t it? I enjoy it, I always missed not having had time to do it, as I started cinema before I finished school.  

“La Philo, c’est formidable.” Formidable is her favorite word to qualify what she likes — Viva Maria, animals, flowers, English beatniks or philosophy.

BRIGITTE IS PURE INSTINCT AND TELLS ANYTHING WITH A DISARMING HONESTY.

“You know, I think I know myself better than anybody else. . .nobody but me has known me for 30 years, no? So I trust only myself.

“For instance, I passed my time arguing with Louis Malle during the shooting of ‘Viva Maria’. . .he nearly got mad with me. I did not want to wear that awful corset and Louis kept teasing me saying, ‘Jeanne will be thinner than you, Jeanne will have a slimmer waist. . .’ Et moi je m’en fichais. . .and that made little dramas. [She makes her cute famous pout.] Jeanne is such a good pupil. . .she entirely trusts the director.”

Louis Malle says that when Brigitte argues, he lets her do what she wants and she does it right, with her sure instinct. Brigitte cannot be an instrument. . .she is a genuine character.

 “VIVA MARIA” FASHION:

“Ra-vi-ssant, ravissant. You know, ‘Viva Maria’ was my first film in fancy clothes. Every time I put one of the dresses on I enjoyed it with the same excitement I had when as a little girl, I dressed to go to a fancy party. It was like ‘recreation’ every day. It’s so becoming. . .the fabulous colors, the choice of fabrics, Chislain Uhry, what a talent! I am longing to see the film…’Viva Maria’ is my most important film.” (B. B. will see the film on Nov. 18 for the first time.)

BRIGITTE PUTS ON ANOTHER RECORD, MAKES A GRACEFUL DANCE STEP, GOES OUT AND COMES BACK TWO MINUTES LATER WITH THE BACK OF HER HAIR TOPPED IN A FUNNY TOUSLED CHIGNON WHICH CLEARS HER EXQUISITE NAPE OF NECK. “I have changed my coiffure.” BRIGITTE IS SO PERFECTLY BEAUTIFUL THAT SHE COULD WEAR ANYTHING.

“J’suis pas coquette pour deux ronds [for nothing]. Of course, I like being pretty but I don’t like to dress.” She does not have to in fact.

“All these granny type of clothes that I wear in ‘Viva Maria,’ I adore them. I have plenty of long skirts, but I never wear them because I like too much to be ‘a mon aise.’ It is too fitted a fashion for me, not comfortable enough, a little ‘guindé.”

“I think it is an extremely feminine way to dress, that ‘Viva Maria’ style, but I don’t believe it will really come back. The evolution goes to the space woman and I adore the Courrèges style. Now I wear my skirts at mid-thigh and that shocks everybody. Real [Paris Boutique] has dressed me for 10 years. . .in fact I inspire them and there is no problem. I have thousands of Real clothes in my cupboards and also lots and lots of fur coats. . .I don’t know what kind of fur they are, but I love them, just to touch them. Often, I throw them on my bed and I roll myself in them, just for the feeling. . .c’est voluptueux. Of course, furs are one thing I won’t buy in New York. . . I have enough.”

SO “VIVA MARIA” TAKES BRIGITTE BARDOT TO NEW YORK. THE TROUPE – INCLUDING LOUIS MALLE AND HIS WIFE ANNE-MARIE, JEANNE MOREAU AND B. B.’s BOYFRIEND BOB ZAGURI – ARRIVE DEC. 17 FOR THE FILM’S OPENING ON DEC. 20.

“I have never been to New York before, simply because I was afraid to take a plane. It is not normal to be in the air, and it is normal to be afraid. Right.

“Now I have been to Brazil, to Mexico and I have a very important reason to go. I have no preconceived idea about New York…I want to see by myself and say what I think afterwards. I would like to buy all sorts of funny gadgets, get some fantastic sportswear and listen to jazz in the nightclubs…but I wonder if THEY’ll let me do what I want? The only thing I know about Americans — they have no meanness, and I like it.

PLANS?

“I don’t make any plans until ‘Viva Maria’ comes out. After, I will decide I have had many propositions…’L‘Etranger’ with Visconti, a James Bond, Ondine…and a marvelous film that Anouilh has written for me — it is called ‘La Chatte Rousse’ and the story is in Japan in the 15th century. I will decide later anyway now I only want to play in one film a year and only ‘formidable’ films with ‘formidables’ directors…and let’s face it, I am not a fan of work.”

BRIGITTE PLAYS WITH AN OLD BLACK AND WHITE DOG.

“Guapa, bravo, you are 70 years old and still sexy. You know, she is expecting puppies. Guapa belongs to a special race which comes from the dustbins of Madrid. She thanks me every day for 10 years, she understands everything, she is my friend. I think she is happy with her destiny.”

BRIGITTE LOVES ANIMALS, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

“In my country house, at Bazoches near Paris, I have four dogs,10 cats that have become 30 now, one donkey, one sheep, two goats, 100 pigeons, ducks, rabbits, chickens . . . all for love, never to eat them.

“It is a beautiful ancient house. In the beginning it was very ‘smart’ but now it has become a funny village because each time I get a new animal, I build a new house for him.”

BRIGITTE HAS A SON, NICOLAS CHARRIER, 5, WHO VISITS HER ST. TROPEZ “ESTATE”  “LA MADRAGUE.” ABOUT CHILDREN.

“J’ suis pas maternelle pour deux ronds. I cannot look after children, I don’t know how to play with them. . . I think they quickly get bored with me. . . I have no patience. . .I am sorry. . .I am a selfish person. . .I know that. . .but I am like that, what can I do?”

  POLITICS?

“Je m’en fous comme de l’an 40.”

 YOUNG PEOPLE?

“I think young boys are terribly funny with their long hair. I adore men with long hair and ‘ca fait hurler tout le monde.’ I love to see them at Castel. I like people who dare, who have the courage to change. I like everything which is new, and — I insist — anything new is right. English young people give a ‘coup sur la tete’ to the world with their music, their clothes…years of suppression which burst out now…I like it.”

 MONEY?

“I spend it. . .money is made to take ‘les soucis’ [worries] out of your life and I don’t want to get bored with it. ‘Je méne ma barque toute seule’ I look after my money by myself [and she does it pretty well]. I love traveling, I could do it in ‘formidable’ conditions because I have ‘du fric’ (money). . .but you know, THEY never let me alone. . .I cannot go out, even cross the street without being ‘traqueé.’”

THAT IS THE PRETTY-SAD STORY OF BEING SO FAMOUS BRIGITTE SOMETIMES HAS THE FEELING OF BEING IN JAIL AND THAT NOBODY CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP HER.

“I do my shopping at night. . .and I send my secretary to buy what I have selected the following day. I wish I could go out more, go to Castel without having all the eyes staring at me, and read in the morning newspapers with whom I danced, what I drank, what I said…nearly what I thought. . .et les drames. . .ca recommence.”

BUT B. B. IS FUNDAMENTALLY A GAY PERSON AND AN OPTIMIST. SHE NEARLY LIVES THE WAY SHE LIKES. . .NO SOPHISTICATION. . .SIMPLICITY FIRST.

Nobody impresses her really. The first time she came to visit Chanel, when she was introduced, in the rather awe-inspiring salons of Mademoiselle, she shook her hand in that typical movement of admiration and simply said. “C’est chouette chez vous.”

BRIGITTE BARDOT WAS BORN SPONTANEOUS, LOGICAL AND HEALTHY AND NOBODY, NOTHING, NOT EVEN HER FABULOUS SUCCESS CAN CHANGE HER.

BRIGITTE BARDOT IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, NATURAL HERSELF, BEAUTIFUL AND JUST RIGHT . . DRESSED AS MARIA II OR COMPLETELY UNDRESSED JOKING OR ARGUING. . .PLAYING THE GUITAR OR DANCING THE SHAKE

BRIGITTE BARDOT EST FORMIDABLE.

 —CLAUDE DE LEUSSE, Paris Bureau