Born September 13, 1944, in England; named "Winifred Jacqueline Fraser Bisset". Her father, Max Fraser Bisset, was a doctor; her mother, Arlette Alexander, had been a lawyer in France before getting married. She has an older brother, also named Max. Her last name (it is usually said) rhymes with "Kiss it" or "illicit". Here is the definitive answer on how to pronounce her name: 1.5 MB QuickTime Movie or 28 kB mp3 audio file (from Hollywood Fashion Machine).

She was born in Weybridge, Surrey; her mother and brother had been evacuated there because of a wartime bombing in their village. Her father was working in a hospital in Iceland at the time.

She grew up in a 400-year old cottage in Tilehurst, near Reading. She and her brother played together - sometimes roughly (she mentions once breaking a stool over his head!). She took ballet classes, but her cramped feet convinced her to give it up.

When Jacqueline was 15, her mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This required Jacqueline to take a great deal of responsibility for her mother's care. She credits this experience for developing much of her inner strength. Her parents eventually divorced. (Jacqueline has never been married, and has no children.)

At 16, Jacqueline was enrolled in the Lycée Français; the intention was to learn French before going to university. Instead of going to college, Jacqueline became interested in the cinema. In order to earn the money for acting lessons, she became a model.

Credit: jacquelinebissetfans.org