You can't dissociate Brigitte Bardot's career and personal life from the one of Roger Vadim. The famed French director and producer had a significant impact on French cinema in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His name became synonymous with the French New Wave, and much of this was due to his collaboration with the young actress, Brigitte Bardot. Their relationship on and off screen was an essential part of their success. Let's look into France's power couple of the 60's and remember to watch Bardot's movies and many more on TV5MONDE USA.

- Watch the best of French Cinema on TV5MONDE -

 Bardot, Godard, Deneuve, Huppert, Audiard, Canet... If all of these names ring a bell to you, then you need to know aboutTV5MONDE USA, the home of French movies in America. TV5MONDE USA, is a French 24-hour network which airs programs around French culture and French art-de-vivre and over 150 French movies throughout the year. On top of that, you can stream French movies whenever you want via the French streaming platform TV5MONDEplus, which has an impressive catalogue of over 1000 French movies. If you're here because of Brigitte Bardot, rejoin! Right now, you can stream Come Dance with me (Voulez-vous danser avec moi), and coming in March, La Parisienne and Mademesoille Striptease will also be added to the platform. Finally, you'll also get free access to the on-demand channel TV5MONDE French Cinema on Demand which curates 15 French movies monthly around a theme, an actor or a director. 

Learn more about TV5MONDE

Brigitte Bardot-Roger Vadim: How they met

Roger Vadim and Brigitte Bardot's love story began at the audition of Les "Lauriers sont coupés", a film directed by Marc Allégret. Despite not getting the role, Bardot caught Vadim's eye immediately. He was struck by her beauty and her natural acting talent. They had an instant connection, and it was not long before they began a relationship. Vadim, who was already an aspiring filmmaker, saw tremendous potential in Bardot and was determined to make her a star. Bardot was drawn to Vadim's creativity and dedication to his craft.

A relationship that created scandal

Bardot's parents did not approve of her relationship with Vadim because of the six-year gap between them. Bardot was just 15 years old when they met, and Vadim was already 22. Her parents, who were well-off, saw Vadim as too old and not good enough for their daughter. They were also concerned that the relationship would interfere with her education as they didn't want her to pursue a career in acting. However, the young couple was very much in love, and their passion was too strong to be ignored. In an effort to appease Bardot's parents, Vadim promised to wait until she was 18 to get married. This agreement allowed them to continue their relationship while also giving her parents some peace of mind. Bardot and Vadim got married on December 20, 1952, when she turned 18.

"And God Created Woman", the movie that changed their lives

One of the most significant films in Bardot's career was "And God Created Woman", which was directed by Roger Vadim. The film was released in 1956 and became a sensation. It solidified Bardot's status as a sex symbol and helped to create a new type of female character on screen. The film showcased Bardot's natural beauty and sensuality, and it was a huge success both critically and commercially. Despite the controversy that it generated as Bardot's character was seen as very frivolous for the very conservative France post WWII, the movie cemented Vadim and Bardot's status as a power couple in the French film industry.

Stream Brigitte Bardot's movies and more on TV5MONDEplus

Bardot-Vadim: Divorced but still the power couple of French cinema

Vadim and Bardot divorced in 1957, after five years of marriage. However, their relationship did not end there. They continued to work together on several films, including "Les Liaisons dangereuses" and "La Bride sur le cou". Although they were no longer a couple, they remained good friends and supported each other throughout their careers and always talked highly about each other in the press until Vadim's death in 2000.

Jane Fonda, Catherine Deneuve: the many women in the life of Roger Vadim

After Roger Vadim's divorce with Brigitte Bardot, he went on to marry four other women: Annette Stroyberg, Jane Fonda, Catherine Schneider, and Marie-Christine Barrault. He also had a relationship with another famed French actress, Catherine Deneuve, and cast her in several of his films.

Stream Brigitte Bardot's movies and more on TV5MONDEplus

If you enjoyed this article, you may also want to read:

Brigitte Bardot and Alain Delon: A Relationship On And Off-Screen
Alain Delon: How The French Actor Became a Global Star

10 best movies with Brigitte Bardot

How a young Brigitte Bardot rose to fame

Brigitte Bardot and Alain Delon: A Relationship On And Off-Screen

Brigitte Bardot-Roger Vadim: An On-And-Off Screen Relationship

Why Brigitte Bardot stopped acting to become an animal-rights activist

Exploring Brigitte Bardot's controversial 1956 film "And God Created Woman"

Contempt: Godard's Iconic Film with Bardot

Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg; the 60s iconic duo