Last night we watched a fascinating documentary on SBS all about the amazing, beautiful, talented Brigitte Bardot (I love the way the French pronounce her name ‘Bree-geet’). What a strong-minded, passionate woman. Hailed as a sex siren in the 50s and 60s and hounded by the paparazzi, which ultimately caused her demise, she retired from the entertainment industry in 1973 to establish herself as an animal welfare activist. Her animal refuge in Normandy now looks after horses once destined for the abattoir because their body parts are used as aphrodisiacs in Asia, stray cats, and at 75 with two walking sticks BB still travels to Canada to push her campaign against baby harp seal slaughter, and to Romania to prevent the torture of dancing bears. Her life and her experiences, her loves and losses are now etched on her face but her true beauty remains steadfast on the inside. My favourite story on last night’s doco was her ex-husband buying back his whopping diamond engagement ring at one of her auctions to establish her animal foundation. His bid set up the foundation - now that is true love and respect. Thank goodness for people like ‘BB” as she was once known. It makes me think of new pop sensation BB lookalike, Duffy’s song, ‘Mercy’. Mercy on those animals, and ‘merci’ Brigitte for your wonderful animal-saving deeds! For more information on the Brigitte Bardot Foundation see http://www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr (the site is in 36 languages!)
