Actor / Director Profile

Jacqueline Bisset has been an international film star since the 1960s. She received her first roles mainly because of her stunning beauty, but over time she has become a fine actress respected by fans and critics alike.Her somewhat French-sounding name has led many to assume that she is from France, but she was brought up in England and had to study to learn French. Her mother was French and was an attorney before being married; her father was a doctor. As a child Jacqueline studied ballet. During her teenage years her father left the family when her mother was diagnosed with disseminating sclerosis; Jacqueline worked as a model to support her ailing mother and eventually her parents divorced, an experience she has said she considered character-strengthening. She took an early interest in film, and her modeling career helped pay for acting lessons.Jacqueline eventually made her film debut as an extra in The Knack... and How to Get It (1965) before playing her first speaking role in Cul-de-sac (1966); both movies were shot in England where she was living at the time. Bisset gained attention for her role in Two for the Road (1967) with Albert Finney, and in that same year appeared in the popular James Bond spoof Casino Royale (1967), playing Miss Goodthighs. In 1968 her career got a boost when Mia Farrow unexpectedly dropped out of the shooting of The Detective (1968); Farrow's marriage to co-star Frank Sinatra was on the rocks, and her role was subsequently given to Bisset, who received special billing in the film's credits. Her breakout role was later that year as Steve McQueen's girlfriend in the classic action film Bullitt (1968). In the popular "disaster film" Airport (1970), Bisset played a pregnant stewardess carrying Dean Martin's love child, and she also had a memorable scene slapping Helen Hayes. Although these films were very successful at the box office, Jacqueline found such "window dressing" parts unsatisfying, and she searched for more compelling material. She became recognized in Europe as a serious actress when she played the lead in the French film Day for Night (1973). However, it would be several years before her talents would be taken seriously in the US. Jacqueline's stunning looks and figure made quite a splash in The Deep (1977). Her underwater swimming scenes in that movie inspired the worldwide wet T-shirt craze, and Newsweek magazine declared her "the most beautiful film actress of all time". However, she hated the wet T-shirt scenes because she felt exploited. At the time of filming she was not told that the filmmakers would shoot the scenes in such a provocative way, and she felt tricked. She received critical acclaim for her performance in Rich and Famous (1981) opposite Candice Bergen. She made another memorable appearance in Class (1983), playing Rob Lowe's sexy mother who has an affair with his roommate Andrew McCarthy.Jacqueline has received four Golden Globe nominations between 1968 and 2000, for her performances in The Sweet Ride (1968), Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978), Under the Volcano (1984), and Joan of Arc (1999) (TV). She was also nominated for a César award, the French equivalent of the Oscar, as best supporting actress for her role in La Cérémonie (1995). She has worked with such directors as John Huston, François Truffaut, Roman Polanski, George Cukor, Stanley Donen and Sidney Lumet, and co-starred with actors of the caliber of Sean Connery, Paul Newman, Marcello Mastroianni, Anthony Quinn, and Charles Bronson. Jacqueline made a successful transition from leading lady to character actress. Her notable productions include the Biblical epics Jesus (1999) (TV) and In the Beginning (2000) (TV). She also played Keira Knightley's mother in the action movie Domino (2005), and in 2006 Jacqueline had a recurring guest role on "Nip/Tuck" (2003) during its fourth season. She filmed a cameo for the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), which starred Angelina Jolie, but her performance was cut from the theatrical release. More recently, Jacqueline starred in An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (2008) (TV) for the Hallmark channel.Jacqueline has never married, although she has had numerous lengthy romances over the years. She continues to make numerous movies and frequently participates in film festivals and award ceremonies around the world.