It was 1956 when Brigitte Bardot burst into global fame with And God Created Woman, a film directed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim. Though not her first film, it was the one where everything changed for the icon, who died Sunday at age 91: Suddenly, she was the embodiment of sensuality and feminine freedom.
Before she retired from acting in 1973, Brigitte Bardot appeared in over 50 films, spanning comedy, drama, and adventure. Many were huge successes at the global box office, spurred by an interest in her style on and offscreen. Read on for her most iconic performances and notable films.
The Grand Maneuver (1955)
Before Bardot’s breakout success, director René Clair cast her in a romantic comedy opposite Gérard Philipe. In the role, Bardot proved her charm was not only provocative but also playful, capable of sustaining the pace and lightness of an entertaining film without losing intensity.
