The Magnificent Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset is magnificent—in so many ways. At 80 years old, she still shines brightly, with a remarkable career that has lasted 58 years and includes nearly 50 films. She shows no signs of slowing down!
From the time I was a little girl, Jacqueline Bisset has been one of my role models. My parents adored her, and it was easy to see why. To me, she embodies the glamour that Hollywood used to have. I admire how she ages naturally and maintains a captivating beauty and sex appeal without relying on heavy makeup.
Throughout her storied career, Bisset has played a variety of unforgettable characters. She’s known for her striking green eyes and high cheekbones, which add to her stunning presence. One of her most famous roles was as the sultry seductress Miss Goodthighs in the spy comedy Casino Royale (1967).
She also portrayed a devoted mother in Sleepy Time Gal (2001) and took on the iconic role of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story (2003). Another memorable performance was in Anna Karenina (1985), where she starred opposite Christopher Reeve in a sweeping love story.
Bisset made her first on-screen appearance in Roman Polanski’s film Cul-de-Sac (1966). But it was in 1968 when she truly began to shine, starring in three major films in one year! She shared the screen with crooner Frank Sinatra in Detective, teamed up with the legendary Steve McQueen in Bullitt, and earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role in The Sweet Ride, which featured Tony Franciosa and Bob Denver, famously known as Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island.
You’ll also recognize Bisset from her standout performances in films like Day for Night (1973), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), and The Deep (1977). She captivated audiences in Wild Orchid (1990) and received nominations for her powerful role in Joan of Arc (1999). In 2013, she won a Golden Globe for her performance in the miniseries Dancing on the Edge and later appeared in Miss You Already (2015) and Birds of Paradise (2021).
In 2010, the talented actress, who speaks English, French, and Italian, was awarded the Legion of Honor, which is the highest state honor in France. Then, in 2023, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sedona International Film Festival, honoring her incredible contributions to cinema.
Despite acting alongside some of Hollywood’s hottest men, Bisset has never been married. She caught the eye of Frank Sinatra, and there were rumors about her dating Steve McQueen while filming Bullitt. However, Bisset, the quintessential English lady, felt they were just too different. She once explained her feelings about McQueen in an interview with the Daily Mail, saying, “He was attractive, but a little scary.
I was very English, and he was a hip American. The way he talked would have driven me mad—I didn’t know what a dude or a soul chick was!”
Bisset has had long-term relationships with notable figures like Canadian actor Michael Sarrazin, ballet dancer Alexander Godunov, and actor Vincent Pérez, but she values her independence too much for anything permanent. In an interview with the Independent, she reflected on her past relationships, stating, “I’ve had some very interesting men in my life.
They have been a handful. I don’t choose easy men, I’m told.” She added, “Sometimes you get too much information when you spend time with people. You start to see things—bad habits. You start to discover them, and then you have to marry bad habits, and I’m not sure I can cope with them. I don’t ever have bad relationships. I haven’t broken up angry. I’ve just moved out of situations that have been overwhelming.”
Though she hasn’t been in the tabloids for outrageous romances, Bisset did make headlines when she won the Golden Globe for her role as Lady Cremone in the BBC series Dancing on the Edge. During her acceptance speech, the music played to signal her off the stage, but she spoke with genuine gratitude. At 69, she had waited 47 years for this moment since her first nomination for best newcomer!
Since then, she has taken on more roles, including playing a sassy femme fatale in the French thriller The Lodger (2020). Most recently, she starred in Loren & Rose (2022), where she plays Rose, a legendary actor trying to revive her career. The character is portrayed as “a little zany and a bit unreliable.” According to the film’s director, Russell Brown, Bisset is quite different from her character.
He remarked, “Viewers often assume that Jacqueline is ‘like she is in the movie.’ But this really isn’t the case. As an actress and a woman, I think she is quite different from Rose, and it’s a testament to her skill that the transformation feels so seamless.”
Bisset is truly a timeless beauty who embraces aging with grace. In her unforgettable Golden Globes speech, she shared this wisdom: “I believe, if you want to look good, you’ve got to forgive everybody. It’s the best beauty treatment.” She has also been open about her feelings regarding plastic surgery, stating, “I don’t think it makes you look younger. It makes you different.”
Jacqueline Bisset is not just an exceptional actress; she is a wonderfully honest, beautiful, and generous woman, a shining light in the celebrity world. She seems so down-to-earth, which makes her even more admirable! Truly, she is a classy woman and one of my all-time favorite actresses.
What are your thoughts? Share your memories of Jacqueline Bisset and her impressive 58-year career as one of Hollywood’s greatest stars in the comments!
