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Brigitte Bardot is a name that evokes beauty, glamour, and controversy. However, Bardot is not only a star of the silver screen but also a passionate advocate for animal rights. Since her retirement from the entertainment industry in 1973, she has devoted her life and fortune to the protection and welfare of animals around the world.

How her career flourished.

Brigitte Bardot, a famous French model turned actress, gained worldwide acclaim with her role in the 1956 film “And God Created Woman,” directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. Despite not being her first movie, it marked a turning point in her career. Bardot continued to star in well-known films like “La Vérité” and “Contempt” during the 1960s. Her distinctive style, including her bouffant hairstyle and bold eyeliner, made her a fashion icon, popularizing off-the-shoulder outfits.

She retired at the age of 39.

However, at the age of 39, Bardot decided to leave the entertainment industry in 1973. While animal activism became her primary focus, her choice was influenced by a desire for privacy and weariness from the demands of fame.

Author James Clarke, who worked on a book about Bardot, shared that she felt she had accomplished enough after two decades in the spotlight. In his own words, “That is one of the things that come out a little bit [in this book] ... She got to that point where it’s just like, ’I’ve kind of done it and 20 years has been sufficient.’”

She had enough of fame.

AF Archive/Cinetext Bildarchiv/Mary Evans Picture Library/East News

Although Bardot has publicly cited her animal activism as the reason for her retirement from acting, the truth is more complex and heartbreaking. Even after stepping away from the screen in 1973, Bardot has remained a public figure, using her platform to advocate for animal rights and other causes.

Brigitte Bardot, reflecting on her acting career, revealed, “In the beginning, I enjoyed having people talking about me, but very quickly, it suffocated and destroyed me. Throughout my 20 years starring in movies, each time filming began, I would break out with herpes.” She further expressed, “Humans have hurt me. Deeply. And it is only with animals, with nature, that I found peace.”

She stopped making films to look after animals.

AFP/EAST NEWS

In 1986, she founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals, which has helped thousands of animals in need across the globe. In a candid moment, sitting in her Paris office under the banner of her animal rights foundation, Brigitte Bardot declared when asked about acting, “It’s over. It’s another world. I have no more friends from those days. I have no time for that. I only live in the world of animal protection. I speak only of that. I think only of that. I am obsessed.”

With a sense of conviction, she added, “I always loved animals. But when I was making films, I discovered there was a difference between loving animals and fighting for them — and I didn’t have time to fight for them. So that’s why I gave up cinema. I stopped making films to look after animals.”

In these words, Bardot encapsulated her transition from the glitz and glamour of the cinema to the dedicated world of animal protection, where her passion and focus now solely reside.

She rejects plastic surgery.

ASSOCIATED PRESS/East News

Brigitte Bardot has proudly embraced aging without resorting to cosmetic surgery. Her biographer notes that she faces the mirror without hesitation and gracefully accepts the passage of time.

However, her peaceful existence in Saint-Tropez has been marred by incessant attention from fans and paparazzi. This constant intrusion has, according to her biographer, led her to develop a skewed perspective of the world. As a result, she dedicates her time solely to her animal protection foundation, finding solace in her mission for the welfare of animals.

According to Dennis Nothdurft, curator of the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, Brigitte Bardot has made a refreshing choice by stepping away from the spotlight and rejecting plastic surgery. In his own words, “Brigitte Bardot has bowed out of the limelight, has refused plastic surgery and hasn’t tried to maintain her looks. That’s quite refreshing because it’s realistic. It is aging on her own terms, not buying into the system.”

What she has achieved with her foundation.

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation has been involved in many projects and campaigns to improve the lives of animals and raise awareness about their plight. Some of the achievements of the foundation include:

• Creating shelters for elephants.
• Reintroducing several animal species that had disappeared in Senegal and participating in the reintroduction of wolves to the Alps.
• Providing mobile veterinary clinics.
• Educating children and adults about animal welfare and environmental issues.
• Supporting other animal rights organizations.

Brigitte Bardot’s refusal to conform to society’s beauty standards and her dedication to animal welfare stands as a testament to her unwavering principles. In our next piece, we will unravel the mysteries surrounding 8 actors who, like Bardot, chose to relinquish the spotlight despite their immense fame. The reasons behind their decisions are as diverse as their careers, offering a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of fame and the choices that define the lives of celebrities.

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