Jacqueline Bisset was born on 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).

Girl 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.

Jacqueline grew up in a 400-year old cottage in Tilehurst, near Reading. Bisset 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.

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

When she was 16, girl was enrolled in the "Lycee Francais"; the intention was to learn French before going to university. Instead of going to college, Bisset became interested in the cinema. In order to earn the money for acting lessons, she became a model.