Brigitte Bardot, the original French "sex kitten," turned 75 on Monday, Sept. 28. Happy belated birthday greetings, Brigitte.

Born to a middle-class family in Paris in 1934, Bardot was a teenaged fashion model when she met and married film director Roger Vadim — and began her movie career — in 1952.

Vadim, the first of four husbands, orchestrated her early vault into the spotlight. Bardot created a sensation at the Cannes Film Festival when she posed in a bikini on the beach in 1953. She became an international sex icon in 1956 with the release of Vadim's And God Created Woman.

Bardot made more than 50 films during a career that ended abruptly in 1973 with her announced retirement at age 39.

Bardot became a passionate animal rights activist — most recently taking Canadian PM Stephen Harper to task over the East Coast seal hunt — and later became involved in far-right French politics.

She is now a virtual recluse and uses crutches to get around because of arthritis. She refused to take part in celebrations and exhibitions in Paris marking her 75th birthday, but made this comment in a recorded interview last week:

"I'm honest, frank and true and say what I feel like saying and that's why I'm criticised. I will never be ashamed of what I did, what I said, or who I was. I have no remorse or regrets."

Here's a look at La Bardot.




Bardot studied ballet before she became a fashion model


Bardot on the beach in Cannes, 1953




Bardot and Pablo Picasso


Bardot and Kirk Douglas


Bardot and Errol Flynn




Who is this happy kid? He's very familiar ... I tracked him down: It's Bill Mumy (from Lost In Space) and the movie is a 1965 comedy called Dear Brigitte


Bardot in 1968


Bardot after her retirement


Bardot in Ottawa, 2006

Here's one of the things Bardot does not regret — an open letter she wrote to Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin during last year's U.S. election campaign:

“I hope you lose the election because that would be a victory for the world.

“By denying the responsibility of humanity in global warming, by advocating gun rights and making statements that are disconcertingly stupid, you are a disgrace to women and you alone represent a terrible threat – a true environmental catastrophe."

Bardot then castigated Palin for supporting Arctic oil exploration that could destroy animal habitats and also for not taking action to protect polar bears.

“That shows your total lack of responsibility, your inability to protect or simply respect animal life.”

Bardot then took on Palin's description of herself as “a pit bull wearing lipstick."

“I know them (pit bulls) well and I can assure you that no pit bull, no dog, nor any other animal for that matter, is as dangerous as you are.”

Happy Birthday, Brigitte.