Jacqueline Bisset has been a role model for me since childhood—my parents adored her, and she embodies the classic Hollywood glamour that feels rare today.
I admire her for aging naturally and have always found her beauty and charm effortless; she never relied on heavy makeup.
Throughout her impressive career, the striking brunette, known for her high cheekbones and captivating green eyes, has shown incredible range. She portrayed the alluring Miss Goodthighs in Casino Royale (1967), a devoted mother in Sleepy Time Gal (2001), First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story (2003), and the iconic Anna Karenina (1985), opposite Christopher Reeves.
Bisset’s screen debut came in Roman Polanski’s Cul-de-Sac (1966), and she gained fame in 1968 with three standout roles in Detective with Frank Sinatra, Bullitt with Steve McQueen, and The Sweet Ride, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination alongside Tony Franciosa and Bob Denver (Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island).
She’s also known for her roles in Day for Night (1973), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Deep (1977), Wild Orchid (1990), her Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated role in Joan of Arc (1999), her Golden Globe-winning role in Dancing on the Edge (2013), as well as Miss You Already (2015) and Birds of Paradise (2021).
A multilingual talent speaking English, French, and Italian, Bisset was awarded the Legion of Honor in 2010, France’s highest honor, and in 2023, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sedona International Film Festival.
Though she’s worked with many of Hollywood’s most desirable men, Bisset never married. Frank Sinatra pursued her, and rumors linked her to Bullitt co-star Steve McQueen, but Bisset—a true English lady—felt they were just too different.
Reflecting on McQueen in a Daily Mail interview, she remarked, “He was attractive, but a little scary. I was very English, and he was a hip American. His way of talking would have driven me mad—I didn’t know what a ‘dude’ or a ‘soul chick’ was!”
She has had long-term relationships with Canadian actor Michael Sarrazin, ballet dancer Alexander Godunov, and actor Vincent Pérez. She admits she’s too independent for marriage. “I’ve had some very interesting men in my life,” she shared with The Independent, adding, “They have been a handful. I don’t choose easy men, I’m told. … I don’t ever have bad relationships. I haven’t broken up angry; I’ve just moved out of situations that became overwhelming.”
Bisset, who is also Angelina Jolie’s godmother, tends to avoid drama in her relationships, but she made headlines with her emotional Golden Globe win for Dancing on the Edge. Her speech, mostly unscripted, revealed the gratitude of someone who waited 47 years since her first nomination.
Since then, she’s continued to impress, notably as a femme fatale in The Lodger (2020), and most recently in Loren & Rose (2022), where she plays Rose, a veteran actress grappling with her quirky reputation as she tries to revive her career.
According to director Russell Brown, Rose’s character is the polar opposite of Bisset herself, emphasizing her range as an actress. Brown noted, “Viewers often assume Jacqueline is ‘like she is in the movie.’ But she’s quite different from Rose; it’s a testament to her skill that the transformation feels so seamless.”
With timeless beauty, Bisset embraces aging gracefully. During her memorable Golden Globes speech, she said, “I believe, if you want to look good, you’ve got to forgive everybody. It’s the best beauty treatment.” She’s also stated that although she struggled with insecurities in her youth, she never considered plastic surgery. “I don’t think it makes you look younger; it makes you look different.”
Jacqueline Bisset is an honest, beautiful, generous artist and an enduring light in the world of celebrities. She’s incredibly down-to-earth, elegant, and one of my all-time favorite actresses.
Feel free to share your memories of Jacqueline Bisset and her incredible 55-year journey as one of Hollywood’s finest actors.