In a tucked-away room off the lobby of the Sofitel hotel, guests at an opening party are greeted by a pouty-mouthed blond,
the French actress Brigitte Bardot. It’s not the actress herself but a collection of images from her heyday, which make up the new traveling exhibition “BB
Forever—Brigitte Bardot, the Legend.”
The famed singer, actress, and model is one of the
most beloved icons to hail from France in the second half of the 20th
century.
Bardot—or “BB” as she’s affectionately known—has a certain je ne sais quoi that has kept fans spellbound throughout a film career that began in the 1950s, captivating audiences in both Europe and
the United States. Many actresses and models, including Claudia Schiffer, made their names trying to follow in Bardot’s image.
Photos from various moments of Bardot’s life—her posing in a bathing suit, looking in a mirror as she applies lip pencil,
eyeing her next lover—adorn the eggshell-colored walls of the exhibition space.
“She’s done more for feminism than the intellectuals” said Henry-Jean Servat, the French photojournalist
and curator of the photo exhibit, at the opening-night party. He said he
had known Bardot for
25 years, and that at nearly 77 years old, she lives almost
like a recluse. “She was fed up with fame, with movies. I think
I’m the only one she sees at her place.”
At the height of her popularity in the 1960s,
according to Servat, Bardot was a controversial figure. He said one
priest denounced
her, forbade his congregation from seeing her films, and
vilified her for what he called her obvious comfort with her own
sexuality.
Bardot’s modern oeuvre, captured in the more than 40 films she made and the numerous magazine covers she appeared on, earned
her international celebrity and made her a sought-after muse for many 20th century artists, including Picasso and Andy Warhol.
The opening of the exhibition was a big night for local aficionados of French culture. As the crowd trickled into the reception
area, scenes from her films flashed across a flat-screen television. DJ Donald Syriani played songs she recorded while servers passed appetizers from Bardot’s favorite recipes.
Since leaving the glamorous life of filmmaking, Bardot has devoted her life to championing animal rights.
“She wants the fame to be more powerful to talk about animals rights” Servat said.
A Look at the New Photo Exhibition “BB Forever—Brigitte Bardot, the Legend”
The French actress/singer/model is feted with a show displaying photographs from her life.
In a tucked-away room off the lobby of the Sofitel hotel, guests at an opening party are greeted by a pouty-mouthed blond,
the French actress
Brigitte Bardot. It’s not the actress herself but a collection of images from her heyday, which make up the new traveling exhibition “BB
Forever—Brigitte Bardot, the Legend.”
The famed singer, actress, and model is one of the
most beloved icons to hail from France in the second half of the 20th
century.
Bardot—or “BB” as she’s affectionately known—has a certain
je ne sais quoi that has kept fans spellbound throughout a film career that began in the 1950s, captivating audiences in both Europe and
the United States. Many actresses and models, including
Claudia Schiffer, made their names trying to follow in Bardot’s image.
Photos from various moments of Bardot’s life—her posing in a bathing suit, looking in a mirror as she applies lip pencil,
eyeing her next lover—adorn the eggshell-colored walls of the exhibition space.
“She’s done more for feminism than the intellectuals” said
Henry-Jean Servat, the French photojournalist
and curator of the photo exhibit, at the opening-night party. He said he
had known Bardot for
25 years, and that at nearly 77 years old, she lives almost
like a recluse. “She was fed up with fame, with movies. I think
I’m the only one she sees at her place.”
At the height of her popularity in the 1960s,
according to Servat, Bardot was a controversial figure. He said one
priest denounced
her, forbade his congregation from seeing her films, and
vilified her for what he called her obvious comfort with her own
sexuality.
Bardot’s modern oeuvre, captured in the more than 40 films she made and the numerous magazine covers she appeared on, earned
her international celebrity and made her a sought-after muse for many 20th century artists, including
Picasso and
Andy Warhol.
The opening of the exhibition was a big night for local aficionados of French culture. As the crowd trickled into the reception
area, scenes from her films flashed across a flat-screen television. DJ
Donald Syriani played songs she recorded while servers passed appetizers from Bardot’s favorite recipes.
Since leaving the glamorous life of filmmaking, Bardot has devoted her life to championing animal rights.
“She wants the fame to be more powerful to talk about animals rights” Servat said.
Most Popular in News & Politics
The Missing Men of Mount Pleasant
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
The “World’s Largest Outdoor Museum” Is Coming to DC. Here’s a Preview.
A Parkour Playground Is Taking Over the National Building Museum
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
More from News & Politics
Guest List: 5 People We’d Love to Hang Out With This July
The Washington Nationals Just Fired the Manager and GM Who Led Them to a Championship. Why Has the Team Been so Bad Since?
FBI Building Now on Track to Leave DC After All, Whistleblower Leaks Texts Suggesting Justice Department Planned to Blow Off Federal Court Orders, and NPS Cuts Leave Assateague Island Without Lifeguards
Families of DC Air Disaster Victims Criticize Army’s Response, Trump Settles His Scores Via Tariff, and Police Dog Kicked at Dulles Returns to Work
This DC-Area Lawyer Wants More Americans Betting on Elections
Trump Threatens DC Takeover, Says He’d Run the City “So Good”; Supreme Court OKs Mass Federal Worker Layoffs; and You Should Go Pick Some Sunflowers
Trump Pledges Support for RFK Stadium Plan, Ben’s Chili Bowl Will Strand Us Half-Smokeless for Months, and Pediatricians Are Suing RFK Jr.
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor