Jacqueline Bisset is a veteran Emmy Award-nominated British actress who has appeared in numerous films and TV series in the course of her career, which has spanned over five and a half decades.
Age, Early Life, and Educational Background
Winifred Jacqueline Fraser Bisset is a native of Weybridge, Surrey, England, who was born under the Virgo zodiac sign on 13 September 1944, which makes her 78 years old as of 2023. She was born to George Maxwell Fraser Bisset, who was a General Practitioner, and his wife, Arlette Alexander, who was a Lawyer. The actress is of English and French ancestry from her mother’s side, and Scottish from her father’s. She has an older brother, Max Fraser-Bisset Jr., who is a retired Business Consultant. Bisset was brought up in a 17th-century country-themed cottage in Tilehurst, Berkshire. She began taking ballet classes as a child.
When she was 15, Jacqueline began taking care of her mom, who suffered from multiple sclerosis. Sadly, her father died of a brain tumor in 1982, and Jacqueline’s mother passed on in 1999. Bisset was educated at The Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in London, which is simply referred to as the French Lycée.
Facts and Hobbies
Jacqueline, whose nickname is Jackie, is an avid collector of artifacts and cars. She owns a 1970 Cadillac Eldorado.
Before she began her acting career, Jacqueline worked as a waitress in a Chinese restaurant. She later began working as a fashion model to pay for her acting classes.
The actress is trilingual, fluent in English, Italian and French.
She is the godmother of the famed American actress, Angelina Jolie.
Career Beginnings: ‘60s-70s
After making her first appearance with an uncredited role in the 1965 film “The Knack…and How to Get It,” Bisset made her official film debut in the British black comedy thriller “Cul-de-sac” in 1966. She received critical acclaim when she was cast alongside Frank Sinatra in the 1968 crime film “The Detective.” In the same year, she shared the screen with Michael Sarrazin in the American drama movie “The Sweet Ride,” which saw her nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer, and played Steve McQueen’s girlfriend in the widely popular film “Bullitt”.
She was cast in numerous films and TV series throughout the early and mid-70s and one of her most important appearances was in the 1978 black-comedy mystery film “Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?” which brought her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
1980s – 1990s
Bisset appeared in numerous all-star films in the ‘80s. She starred alongside William Holden and Paul Newman in the 1980 American disaster film “When Time Ran Out…”, and Ben Gazzara in the 1981 epic war movie “Inchon.” Some of her next notable film appearances were in the 1981 drama “Rich and Famous” (she was also its co-producer) and the 1984 films “Under the Volcano” and “Forbidden,” for which she received nominations for Golden Globe and CableACE Awards respectively. Bisset’s 1999’s two-episode appearance – as Isabelle d’Arc – in the Canadian two-part TV miniseries “Joan of Arc” saw her nominated for various awards including a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe. She received an Online Film & Television Association Award (OFTA) nomination for her praised portrayal of Mary in the 1999 TV film “Jesus.”
21st Century
Bisset began the 21st century with an appearance in the 2000 biblical television miniseries “In the Beginning,” which was followed by appearances in an episode or two of various TV series including “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” in 2003. In 2006, she portrayed James LeBeau in seven episodes of Ryan Murphy’s FX medical drama series “Nip/Tuck.”
Jacqueline’s portrayal of Isabella in the 2008 television film “An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving” saw her nominated for a Satellite Award. Moreover, her four-episode appearance in the British TV drama, “Dancing on the Edge” brought her a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film. Bisset’s most recent film appearances were in “Birds of Paradise” in 2021 and “Last Dollar” in 2023.
Other Works and Public Image
Jacqueline has posed for numerous brands including Bristow’s Star and Avon Products Inc.’s Anew Platinum Moisturizer. In her long and successful career, the actress graced over 300 magazine covers. Shortly after the release of the 1977 movie “The Deep,” Bisset was voted the Most Beautiful Film Actress of All Time by “Newsweek” magazine. She has appeared in numerous projects that feature LGBTQ characters (including the film “The Grasshopper” and the TV series “Nip/Tuck” and “The Detective”), which has seen her unknowingly acquire a massive gay fanbase despite being straight, as pointed out by “Forbes.”
Other Awards and Nominations
Out of the 45 awards she has been nominated for, Bisset has won 22. She scooped a Golden Globe Award in 2014 for her performance in “Dancing on the Edge” and has been nominated for four similar awards for her performances in various other projects. Jackie recently won a Studio City Film Festival Award (2022), Ramsgate International Film & TV Festival Award (2023), Columbia Film Festival (2023), and many more for her performance in “Loren & Rose.” Moreover, she has been nominated for a Satellite Award, OFTA Television Award, seven Photoplay Awards, and many more.
Personal Life
Bisset has never married and doesn’t have children. However, she’s dated many high-profile personalities in her life – some of her well-known ex-boyfriends include the Canadian actor, Michael Sarrazin (1967-1974), Moroccan real estate tycoon Victor Drai (1975-1980), Russian dancer and actor Alexander Godunov (1981-1988), the Swiss actor, Vincent Perez (1988-1992), and the Turkish martial arts trainer, Emin Boztepe (1994-2005). When she was in her early 30s, she told the press that she didn’t intend to have children because her conscience would not allow her to do what she did in Hollywood and on-screen with her children watching her.
Bisset is an atheist. In an interview with “Metro,” she shed some light on her ‘religion’, when she revealed that she is not very religious but is quite spiritual.
Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance
Bisset is of White ethnicity and has green eyes and long dark brown hair. She stands 5ft 6ins (1.68m) tall, weighs around 145lbs (66kgs), and her vital statistics are 35-25-35. Some of her distinctive features include thin lips and high cheekbones.
Net Worth
Jacqueline has over 100 film and TV credits to her name, having shared the screen with many famous names including Steve McQueen, Anthony Quinn, Frank Sinatra, and Toni Collette. Bisset has a reputed net worth of approximately $20 million, as of 2023.
