An Interview with Brigitte Bardot
As Brigitte Bardot turns 80, People & High Society speaks to the remarkable woman who became one of the world’s most famous sex icons of all time. She was the woman who put St Tropez on the map, starred in over 40 films and is still influencing fashion today, as seen recently in Diane Von Furstenberg’s New York show.
Bardot later went from screen siren to one of the world’s most influential animal rights activists, establishing her own foundation. Bardot explains why she withdrew herself from the limelight to dedicate her life and fortune to the welfare of animals.
What is the most interesting thing you discovered or learnt whilst having an acting career?
I have never mixed my career as an actress and that of the President of my Foundation, the one started when the other came to an end.
I have discovered, and still discover, that human cruelty knows no limits and that one needs immense courage and a will of iron to help others understand that animals are made of flesh and blood like us, that they suffer the same pains as us, that they deserve the same respect as us and that their continuous slaughter should not be part of human entertainment.
Je n’ai jamais mélangé ma carrière d’actrice et ma fonction de Présidente de ma Fondation, l’une a commencé lorsque l’autre était terminée.
J’ai découvert et je découvre toujours que la cruauté et la connerie humaines sont sans limites et qu’il faut un immense courage et une volonté de fer pour imposer aux autres, faire comprendre que les animaux sont des êtres de chair et de sang comme nous, qu’ils souffrent des mêmes douleurs que nous, qu’ils méritent le même respect que nous et que leurs massacres continuels ne font pas partie des loisirs de m’humanité.
Hunger and passion are often considered the most important elements to success. Do you agree? What motivates and drives you?
LOVE!
L’AMOUR!
What is the one thing you are most proud of in your life?
The thing I am most proud of in my life is my foundation.
La plus grande fierté de ma vie c’est ma fondation.
Tell us more about starting your foundation?
I started it alone in 1986 by selling at auction everything which was precious to me, my jewellery, my mementoes, my furniture, my paintings, my top designer clothes - even the wedding dress of my marriage to Vadim.
This money brought me the funds necessary - at the time 30 million francs - to establish the basis of my Foundation. It started in a small way; I had to learn management and the workings [of a charity]. Little by little I surrounded myself with the minimum of people - all I had being meant for the animals. I also had to learn how to make myself be respected in the environment of animal protection, which was very stern with me at first. Today my Foundation has become the most important one in France, known and well known abroad and led by very strong, competent and devoted people.
Je l’ai créée seule en 1986 en vendant aux enchères tout ce qui m’était précieux, mes bijoux, mes souvenirs, mes meubles, mes tableaux, mes robes de grands couturiers et même ma robe de mariée avec Vadim.
Cet argent m’a rapporté la somme nécessaire, à l’époque 30 millions de francs, pour établir les bases de ma Fondation. Elle a débuté petitement, j’ai du apprendre la gestion, le fonctionnement. Petit à petit je me suis entourée d’un minimum de personnes, tout ce que j’avais étant destiné aux animaux. J’ai du aussi apprendre à me faire respecter dans ce milieu de la protection animale qui a été très sévère envers moi à mes débuts. Aujourd’hui ma Fondation est devenue la plus importante de France, connue et reconnue à l’étranger et dirigée par des personnes extrêmement solides, compétentes et dévouées.
What do you find is the biggest challenge at the moment for animal rights?
To make our leaders who are in power, understand that urgent improvements need to be made to every aspect of the condition of badly treated animals. This contempt for the life and suffering of animals, considered as money making objects, is not worthy of a country which considers itself as developed.
Faire comprendre à nos dirigeants qui ont le pouvoir que des améliorations urgentes sont à prendre pour que le sort des animaux si maltraités soit amélioré dans tous les domaines. Ce mépris de la vie et de la souffrance animale, considérés comme des objets de rentabilité, n’est pas digne d’un pays qui se dit évolué.
When did you first feel this incredible connection to animals?
I was born with the love of animals in me. My parents did not have any because my childhood was during the war of 1940 and life was complicated [enough as it was]. But as soon as I married Vadim, his first gift was an adorable cocker [spaniel] which I named Clown!
Je suis née avec en moi l’amour des animaux. Mes parents n’en avaient pas car mon enfance s’est passée pendant la guerre de 40 et que la vie était déjà très compliquée. Mais dès que j’ai été mariée à Vadim, le premier cadeau qu’il m’a fait était un adorable cocker noir que j’ai appelé Clown !
What do you think a relationship with animals can teach us?
Everything. Animals set an example which many humans would not be capable to follow. I have found among them everything that I badly missed in my life as a [movie] star.
Tout. Les animaux sont des exemples que bien des humains seraient incapables de suivre. J’ai trouvé auprès d’eux tout ce qui m’a terriblement manqué durant toute ma vie de star*
*Original interview in French.
