Brigitte Bardot is a French actress, singer, and animal rights activist who rose to fame in the 1950s and 1960s. She is widely considered to be one of the most iconic sex symbols of the 20th century. Bardot was born in Paris in 1934 and began her career as a fashion model before transitioning to acting. She starred in a number of films, including And God Created Woman (1956), Contempt (1963), and Viva Maria! (1965).