Brigitte Bardot’s complicated love life at 90: from her Hollywood affairs to her four marriages

In 1952, at the age of 18, Brigitte married director Roger Vadim, who was six years her senior. This was years before he would develop a reputation for his relationships with young and beautiful actresses (like Jane Fonda).

They separated in 1956 and were divorced by 1957, but remained good friends and worked together in the following years as well.

She began an affair with And God Created Woman co-star Jean-Louis Trintignant in 1956, contributing to the dissolution of her marriage. Jean-Louis was also married at the time to actress Stéphane Audran, but the latter divorced him later that year.

The actors lived together for two years, but it didn’t last, especially due to Brigitte beginning another affair with musician Gilbert Bécaud. She and Jean-Louis broke things off in 1958, which led to a brief slump for the actress.

Brigitte quickly rebounded, however, and found love with actor Jacques Charrier, her co-star from Babette Goes to War. They began a whirlwind romance and tied the knot in 1959, welcoming a son together just seven months later, although Brigitte admitted in interviews at the time the prospect of motherhood didn’t excite her.

In 1962, Brigitte and Jacques announced their divorce, in part due to the actress’ affair with Hollywood star Glenn Ford. Their son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier was mostly raised by his father, having little contact with his biological mom until he became an adult.

She continued to pursue her acting career in full force after, having become a major star by that point, and briefly living with musician Bob Zagury between 1963 and 1965.

Her third marriage came in 1966 to German millionaire and playboy Gunter Sachs, who wooed her by flying over her villa on the French riviera by helicopter and dropping scores of roses over her home. Although she reportedly began an affair with singer Mike Sarne just days after the wedding.

Their marriage did not last either, separating in 1968 and divorcing in 1969. She embarked on a relationship with actor Patrick Gilles, her co-star in The Bear and the Doll, in 1968, which ended in 1971.

Over the next two decades, Brigitte had several noteworthy romances, including with singer Serge Gainsbourg, bartender and ski instructor Christian Kalt, writer John Gilmore, actor Warren Beatty, and more. 

Her longest romances during that time were with sculptor and actor Miroslav Brozek, between 1975 and 1979, for whom she even posed for some sculptures; and French television producer Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, between 1980 and 1985.

In July of 1992, Brigitte met Bernard d’Ormale, a businessman and advisor to Jean-Marie Le Pen, the former leader of the far-right French political party National Rally. The very next month, they tied the knot.

Their marriage inspired Brigitte at the time to repair her relationship with her son, and her union with Bernard has remained steadfast ever since. Their marriage has lasted longer than her previous three combined.

In her book Larmes de combat, Brigitte opened up about why she had so many affairs and her short-lived relationships. “With each relationship, I would constantly go back in search of other loves when the present became lukewarm. I don’t like the in-between, the less good.”

“I have always sought passion. That is why I have often been unfaithful. And when passion was coming to an end, I would pack my bags.”