Pop culture icon and 1960s sex symbol Brigitte Bardot had a spectacular career as an actress, model, and singer. Appearing in landmark films including And God Created Woman (1956) and Le Mépris (1963), and ultimately being nominated for a BAFTA Award, she eventually grew weary of public life and retired from the entertainment industry in 1973. And aside from the career in front of the camera, the famed animal rights activist also had several relationships in private, though she admitted she lacked commitment. “I have always looked for passion,” she once said. “That’s why I was often unfaithful. And when the passion was coming to an end, I was packing my suitcase.”
Throughout her life, Brigitte has been married three times, marrying her fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale, in 1992. Bernard revealed that the actress had been hospitalized for “trouble breathing” on July 19, 2023. He revealed the heat and got to her while speaking to French outlet Varmatin. “[Her breathing] was stronger than usual but she did not lose consciousness. Let’s call it a moment of respiratory distraction,” he said. Find out everything you need to know about Bernard and Brigitte’s past husbands here.
Brigitte was only 18 years old when she married director Roger Vadim, 24 at the time, on December 20, 1952. Her husband would go on to direct her in the role that gained her worldwide recognition — Juliette in And God Created Woman. But by 1956, the relationship seemed to be in trouble, as the breathtaking beauty fell in love with her married costar Jean-Louis Trintignant. Her marriage to Roger was over by 1957.
Despite the split, the former couple appeared to remain on good terms. The pair reunited for 1961’s Please, Not Now! and 1962’s Love On A Pillow. He even complimented her And God Created Woman performance of one of the most memorable scenes of her dancing barefoot in a 1988 Associated Press interview. “There was really nothing shocking in what Brigitte did, what was provocative was her natural sensuality,” he said, per The Guardian.
Roger was married four times after Brigitte, including to Jane Fonda, 85, from 1965 to 1973. His fifth and final marriage was to actress Marie-Christine Barrault from 1990 until his death in 2000. He was 72 when he passed away.
After breaking up with Jean-Louis, Brigitte embarked on a relationship with French actor, film producer, and artist Jacques Charrier. Brigitte became pregnant with him, and they were subsequently married on married on June 18, 1959. The duo welcomed Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, Brigitte’s only child, on January 11, 1960. She reportedly engaged in an affair with Glenn Ford in the early 1960s, and ultimately divorced Jacques in 1962.
Aside from the reported affair, Brigitte revealed that she wasn’t happy when she became pregnant in her memoir Initials BB, per The Sydney Morning Herald. After she and Jacques split in 1962, he raised Nicolas with little contact with his mother, and both her ex and son tried to sue her for damages after her memoir was published. Brigitte was reportedly not invited to her son’s wedding in 1982. They do seem to have reconciled since then.
