This Retired Icon Was One of the Sexiest Women of the 20th Century, Secretly Married, & Disappeared for Years

French icon Brigitte Bardot was seen for the first time in years on her 89th birthday.

The star has been married to her devoted husband, who remains by her side, for 31 years.

French legend Brigitte Bardot has lived a colorful life as a forever ‘It’ girl in the entertainment industry. She is recognized and revered for the iconic roles she has played in numerous silver-screen productions.

Playboy, known for its features and displays of beautiful famous women, gave the French blonde beauty a top spot as one of the sexiest female stars of the 20th century. Other media outlets even deem her as the number one “It” girl of all time.

Concerning her alluring beauty, Brigitte is also typically known for her famous pouty lips, and regarding Playboy’s sexiest female star list, she came in at number four. Her sultry confidence and sensual charisma also saw her be labeled as her home country’s most gazed-upon star.

Apart from the success she garnered during her time as an actress and all-round entertainer, Brigitte has also built a reputation as an avid animal rights activist. As far as her personal life is concerned, the beloved star, commonly referred to by her nickname BB, is a mother of one and has been married to her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, for 31 years.

According to media outlets, the couple tied the knot in secret in August of 1992, with only a few friends joining them for their special day. The two have remained blissfully married since then, and when they first wed, Brigitte’s friends told a news outlet that the “Contempt” star was happier than she had been in a while thanks to her sudden and secret marriage with Bernard.

Interestingly, before the two wed, Brigitte’s friends had expressed doubt that she would remarry after her last husband. Nonetheless, the two wed in a quaint little wooden church in Norway and lived together in Brigitte’s luxury 10-bedroom mansion in Saint-Tropez.

From the time they first met, Bernard has remained by Brigitte’s side, especially throughout her health scares. When French newspapers first reported that their beloved celebrity had allegedly overdosed on sedatives in 1992 while at home, Brigitte’s knight in shining armor quickly reassured the very worried public and explained:

A spokesperson for the clinic where Brigitte was taken, further confirmed Bernard’s assertion that his wife was fine. However, years after her sedative scare, Brigitte faced another health battle.

Earlier this year, Bernard confirmed that Brigitte experienced difficulty breathing. Luckily, first responders quickly intervened, provided her oxygen, and stayed with her for a while to ensure she was okay.

Bernard explained that the cause of his wife’s respiratory problems was age and weather-related, citing an extreme heatwave circulating Europe at that time. Apparently, the air conditioning system in their La Madrague home was not functioning optimally.

Despite assuring the public of Brigitte’s wellbeing, a news outlet had alleged that she had stayed in the ICU. However, the “A Very Private Affair” talent set the record straight via a handwritten note:

“I want to reassure everyone. I am doing very well. The press caused a scandal with an illness that happened to me…”

Recently, the revered icon, who had respiratory problems earlier this year, was spotted out in a rare appearance. On her 89th birthday, paparazzi captured pictures of Brigitte enjoying a drive in the South of France.

The starlet was seen driving in a mini white van from her La Madrague villa to her abode in La Garigue. Her legendary blonde hair was tied back, only allowing a few loose wisps to frame her face. She also had on big sunglasses shielding her eyes from the sun.

Brigitte’s rare outing comes many years after she was last seen in public and a few months after emergency services showed up at her home to assist her with her breathing difficulties.