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Key Facts

  • ✓ Brigitte Bardot retired from cinema on June 6, 1973.
  • ✓ She was 38 years old at the time of her retirement.
  • ✓ She felt she was being 'put forward like in a circus' in the cinema industry.
  • ✓ She began a pioneering combat for the defense of animals.

Quick Summary

On June 6, 1973, at the age of 38, Brigitte Bardot permanently severed ties with the film industry. She described the environment of the cinema world as one where she felt she was being displayed like an animal in a circus. Following her departure from acting, Bardot dedicated her life to a pioneering campaign for the defense of animals. She has since spoken about the reasons behind her sudden break from the industry and her subsequent shift toward activism. Her departure marked the end of a significant era in French cinema and the beginning of her work as a prominent advocate for animal welfare.

The Decision to Leave Cinema

The departure from the film industry occurred on June 6, 1973. At the time, Brigitte Bardot was 38 years old. She decided to break away from the cinema world permanently.

Bardot expressed specific reasons for her decision to leave the profession. She felt a lack of autonomy within the industry. The environment was one where she felt she was being "mise en avant comme dans un cirque" (put forward like in a circus). This sentiment drove her to end her acting career abruptly.

"mise en avant comme dans un cirque"

— Brigitte Bardot

A New Focus on Activism 🐾

After leaving the screen, Bardot turned her attention to a different cause. She began a pionnier (pioneer) combat for the defense of animals. This new chapter in her life involved significant work in animal rights.

She has revisited this transition in later years. Bardot discussed her departure from cinema and her subsequent activism in an interview. The interview was conducted for a publication referred to as "Le Monde" in the source text.

Reflections on the Break

The interview regarding her retirement was part of a series titled « Brigitte Bardot, en toute liberté ». This was the sixth and final installment of the series. In this conversation, she detailed the events of 1973.

She contrasted her feelings of being trapped in the cinema environment with the freedom she sought. Her life post-1973 has been defined by this pursuit of freedom, specifically for herself and for animals. The transition from actress to activist remains a defining aspect of her legacy.