On her 89th birthday, Brigitte Bardot, the legendary French actress, made a rare public appearance, her first in quite some time.
Brigitte has been married to her devoted husband, Bernard d’Ormale, for 31 years, and he never leaves her side. The two have built a life of love and companionship over the decades.
Earlier this year, Brigitte faced a health scare, but it was not the first time she’d had a close call. Some news outlets even reported that she and Bernard had secretly married after a previous health crisis many years ago.
Brigitte Bardot was the “it” girl of her generation. A true superstar, she became famous for her roles in countless films. Her beauty and charm earned her admiration all over the world. Magazines like Playboy even listed her as one of the prettiest female stars of the 20th century. Many media outlets still call her the greatest “It” girl of all time.
Beyond her stunning looks, Brigitte was also famous for her full, pouty lips and the confidence she carried. Playboy ranked her as the fourth sexiest female star ever. In France, her bold charisma made her the most-watched star of her time.
But Brigitte isn’t just known for her acting and beauty. In later years, she became an outspoken advocate for animal rights, building a second career as a passionate activist. Despite all her fame, Brigitte has kept her personal life mostly private. She’s been married to Bernard d’Ormale for over three decades, and they share a son from a previous relationship.
According to reports, Brigitte and Bernard secretly tied the knot in August 1992, with only a handful of close friends attending their wedding. The couple had been together for many years, but their wedding took friends by surprise. “She hasn’t been this happy in a long time,” one friend shared at the time.
Brigitte had been through difficult times before finding happiness with Bernard. Her friends doubted she would marry again after her previous husband passed away. Yet, she and Bernard got married in a small, charming chapel in Norway. They’ve since lived together in her luxurious ten-bedroom mansion in Saint-Tropez.
Throughout their relationship, Bernard has been Brigitte’s rock, especially during her health battles. Back in 1992, rumors spread that Brigitte had overdosed on sedatives. But Bernard quickly reassured the worried public: “Brigitte was just exhausted and took too many pills to help her sleep. She was fine after a few hours and didn’t need her stomach pumped.”
The hospital also confirmed Bernard’s statement, calming her fans. But the health scares didn’t stop there. Earlier this year, Brigitte experienced another issue—this time with her breathing. Emergency responders rushed to her side, gave her oxygen, and stayed with her until she was stable.
Bernard explained that Brigitte’s breathing troubles were due to her age and the severe heatwave affecting Europe at the time. The air conditioning in their La Madrague home wasn’t working properly, which made things worse.
While some media outlets claimed Brigitte had been in intensive care, she soon set the record straight in a handwritten letter: “I want to reassure everyone. I’m doing excellently. I was sick, but the press made a big deal out of it.”
Just a few months later, Brigitte was spotted out in public again. On her 89th birthday, she was seen taking a drive through the South of France. Paparazzi snapped photos of her traveling from her La Madrague home to her other residence, La Garigue. Her blonde hair was pulled back, with only a few strands framing her face. She wore large sunglasses to shield her eyes from the sun.
This rare sighting came only a short time after emergency personnel had rushed to her aid earlier in the year. It had been years since Brigitte was last seen in public, making this birthday outing a special moment for fans.
