The Magnificent Jacqueline Bisset
Jacqueline Bisset is magnificent—in so many ways! At 80 years old, she continues to dazzle with a remarkable career that has spanned 58 years and includes about 50 films. The talented actress shows no signs of slowing down!
Jacqueline Bisset has been one of my role models since I was a little girl. My parents adored her, and I can see why. To me, she truly represents the glamour that Hollywood used to have. I admire how she embraces aging naturally; she has a unique beauty and sex appeal that shines through without needing tons of makeup.
Throughout her storied career, this brown-haired beauty, known for her striking green eyes and high cheekbones, has shown incredible versatility. She has played a wide range of characters, from the sultry seductress Miss Goodthighs in the spy parody Casino Royale (1967) to a devoted mother in Sleepy Time Gal (2001).
She portrayed First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story (2003) and took on the role of Anna Karenina in the sweeping love story Anna Karenina (1985), where she starred alongside the charming Christopher Reeve.
Bisset made her first on-screen appearance in Roman Polanski’s Cul-de-Sac (1966), but it was in 1968 when she truly began to shine.
That year, she starred in back-to-back films: she worked with the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra in Detective, teamed up with the Hollywood bad boy Steve McQueen in Bullitt, and received a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in The Sweet Ride, featuring Tony Franciosa and Bob Denver, who is famously known as Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island.
You’ll recognize her from standout performances in films like Day for Night (1973), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), and The Deep (1977). Bisset dazzled audiences in Wild Orchid (1990) and received nominations for her powerful role in Joan of Arc (1999).
In 2013, she won a Golden Globe for her role in the miniseries Dancing on the Edge, and later appeared in Miss You Already (2015) and Birds of Paradise (2021).
In 2010, the multilingual actress—she speaks English, French, and Italian—was awarded the Legion of Honor, the highest state honor in France. Then, in 2023, the Sedona International Film Festival honored Bisset with a Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating her incredible contributions to the world of cinema.
Despite working with some of Hollywood’s hottest men, Bisset has never been married. The stunning actress caught the eye of Frank Sinatra, and rumors swirled about her dating Steve McQueen during the filming of Bullitt. However, Bisset, a proper English lady, felt they were just too different
She once explained her feelings about McQueen in an interview with the Daily Mail, saying, “He was attractive, but a little scary. I was very English, and he was a hip American. The way he talked would have driven me mad—I didn’t know what a dude or a soul chick was!”
She has had long-term relationships with several notable figures, including Canadian actor Michael Sarrazin, ballet dancer Alexander Godunov, and actor Vincent Pérez. Yet, she admits she’s too independent for anything permanent. In an interview with the Independent, she shared, “I’ve had some very interesting men in my life.
They have been a handful. I don’t choose easy men, I’m told.” She went on to say, “Sometimes you get too much information when you spend time with people. You start to see things—bad habits. You start to discover them, and then you have to marry bad habits, and I’m not sure I can cope with them. I don’t ever have bad relationships. I haven’t broken up angry.
I’ve just moved out of situations that have been overwhelming.”
Although Bisset is the godmother to Angelina Jolie and hasn’t made headlines for wild romances, she gained attention when she won the Golden Globe for her portrayal of Lady Cremone in the BBC series Dancing on the Edge. During her acceptance speech, the music started to play, signaling her to leave the stage.
Yet, she spoke from the heart, expressing genuine gratitude as the then 69-year-old actress celebrated a moment 47 years in the making since her first nomination for best newcomer!
Since that memorable win, she took on the role of a sassy femme fatale in the French thriller The Lodger (2020). Most recently, she starred in Loren & Rose (2022), where she plays the lead character, Rose, a legendary actor trying to revive her career. Rose is described as being “a little zany and a bit unreliable.”
The film’s director, Russell Brown, highlighted the difference between Bisset and her character, saying, “Viewers often assume that Jacqueline is ‘like she is in the movie.’ But this really isn’t the case. As an actress and a woman, I think she is quite different from Rose, and it’s a testament to her skill that the transformation feels so seamless.”
Bisset is truly a timeless beauty who embraces aging with grace. In her famous Golden Globes speech, she shared this wisdom: “I believe, if you want to look good, you’ve got to forgive everybody. It’s the best beauty treatment.” She has also been open about her feelings regarding plastic surgery, stating, “I don’t think it makes you look younger. It makes you different.”
Jacqueline Bisset is not just an extraordinary actress; she is an honest, beautiful, and generous woman—a shining light in the world of celebrity! She seems so down-to-earth, making her even more admirable. What a classy woman and one of my all-time favorite actresses!
What do you think? Share your memories of Jacqueline Bisset and her remarkable 58-year career as one of Hollywood’s greatest stars in the comments!
