Jacqueline Bisset stands out in many remarkable ways.
At 78, she boasts an impressive résumé—having appeared in 58 films over the course of her 58-year career.
My admiration for Jackie Bisset began in childhood, inspired by my parents’ fondness for her. She quickly became one of my lifelong role models.
She evokes the golden age of Hollywood, one of the few remaining stars who truly captures that classic charm.
To me, she’s always been captivating and beautiful, maturing with a natural grace.
She never relied heavily on makeup to make an impression.
Over the years, the actress—famous for her mesmerizing green eyes and well-defined cheekbones—has taken on a wide range of roles. From playing the tragic heroine in Anna Karenina to the flirtatious Miss Goodthighs in Casino Royale (1967), and even First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis in America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story (2003), Bisset has shown incredible versatility.
Her screen debut came in Roman Polanski’s 1966 film Cul-de-Sac.
By 1968, she was making waves with roles in several acclaimed films, including The Sweet Ride alongside Anthony Franciosa and Bob Denver (known from Gilligan’s Island), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Her notable film credits include Day for Night (1973), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Deep (1977), Wild Orchid (1990), Dancing on the Edge (2013), Miss You Already (2015), and Birds of Paradise (2017). She also appeared in Joan of Arc (1999), for which she was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Bisset is fluent in English, French, and Italian. In 2010, France honored her with its highest award, the Legion of Honor. She also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sedona International Film Festival in 2023.
Though she’s acted alongside some of Hollywood’s most desirable men, Bisset has never married.
She caught Frank Sinatra’s attention, and rumors once swirled about a romance with her Bullitt co-star Steve McQueen. Yet, Bisset—ever the pragmatic Englishwoman—believed their personalities were too different.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she recalled, “He was undeniably attractive, but a little intimidating. He was a gritty American city guy, while I was very British. If I had really understood what kind of man he was, I don’t think I could have handled his way of speaking.”
Although she’s had three long-term relationships—with Canadian actor Michael Sarrazin, ballet star Alexander Godunov, and actor Vincent Perez—she believes she’s too independent for marriage.
“I’ve had fascinating men in my life,” she said in an Independent interview. “But they weren’t easy. People tell me I don’t go for the simple ones.”
She also shared that spending a lot of time with someone can sometimes reveal too much.
“You begin to notice habits you never wanted to see,” she explained. “And then you find yourself tied to someone with unpleasant traits. I don’t know if I could live with that.”
“I’ve never been in a toxic relationship,” she added. “I haven’t experienced rage or drama—I just quietly shifted the dynamic when things became too much.”
Although Bisset has kept her personal life low-key, she gained renewed attention after winning a Golden Globe for her role as Baroness Cremone in the BBC’s Dancing on the Edge.
She’s also godmother to Angelina Jolie.
Surprisingly, she won the Golden Globe at 69, after a career that had brought her 47 nominations. Her emotional and somewhat rambling acceptance speech, cut off by the music, touched many hearts.
Since then, she’s kept busy, including a role in the 2020 French thriller The Oddger, where she plays a sharp, mysterious femme fatale.
Her character Rose is perceived as unpredictable and eccentric, but director Russell Brown clarified that the role is nothing like Bisset herself.
“People assume Jackie is like the character she plays,” he noted. “But she’s the complete opposite—both as a woman and as an actress. The ease with which she disappears into her role speaks to her talent.”
Jacqueline Bisset has aged gracefully and unapologetically. In her Golden Globe speech, she famously said, “If you want to look good, forgive everybody.” She called it the best kind of beauty treatment.
She’s been open about her struggles with self-image in her youth but has never felt the urge to undergo plastic surgery.
“I don’t think it makes you look younger,” she said.
And frankly, she doesn’t need it.
Jacqueline Bisset is more than just a screen icon—she’s a generous, honest, and inspiring woman. She brings artistry and integrity to her craft and remains refreshingly grounded.
She’s a brilliant, thoughtful woman—and one of my absolute favorite actresses of all time.