Cook Islands 2013 $5 Hollywood Legends IV Brigitte Bardot Silver Coin Proof

Brigitte Bardot (*September 28, 1934) was considered to be France’s No. 1 film icon in the 50s and 60s! With her unmistakable hairstyle and daring performances she was one of the most sought after and most photographed film stars.

Already at the age of 15, Bardot was one of the hottest models in Paris. She combined childlike innocence and overwhelming beauty. She had the entire male population at her feet. The stage director Marc Allégret noticed her great dancing talent in her performances. She had a love affair with his employee Roger Vadim and then married him in 1952. It was also Vladim who pushed her career and with her, produced the film “Et Dieu… créa la femme“ in 1956. Thanks to this international hit B.B. became one of the most famous Frenchwoman ever. Apart from her film career, Bardot also sang chansons. For almost 50 years now she has been campaining for animal welfare with great vigour and success.

Despite obscurity and lack of funds, Bruno Bernard (1912 - 1987) set up his first darkroom in the basement of his Hollywood apartment in 1940. Shortly thereafter, he moved his studio to the famous Sunset Strip. “No one knew the name Bernard, but they all knew Hollywood“, and hence the optical trademark signature Bernard of Hollywood, which ensured the image of glamour visually for decades, was created. Bruno Bernard was considered as the “King of Hollywood glamour” and Marilyn Monroe’s discoverer. In 1984 Bernard was the first photographer to be honoured with an Oscar at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.