The films that made Julie Christie a pop icon

The British actress became a pop icon of the "swinging London" in the 60s. Great European and "New Hollywood" independent filmmakers all went for Julie Christie as they experimented with new forms.

Julie Christie acted in her first movie at the age of 21. In the British comedy "Crooks Anonymous" (1962), directed by Ken Annakin, the young actress played a stripper getting married to a crook. The white outfit emphasized her beauty.

Christie achieved world fame as Larissa "Lara" Antipova, in the 1965 film adaptation of the novel "Doctor Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak. It would remain her most famous role.

Julie Christie gained many fans by starring in two movies directed by the British filmmaker John Schlesinger, "Billy Liar" (1963) and "Darling" (1965), co-starring Dirk Bogarde. That film established her as an icon of London's swinging 60s - and she received an Oscar for her performance.

Beyond roles casting her as a beautiful young model seducing moneyed men, Julie Christie was brilliant in a wide variety of genres. The British actress worked with French director François Truffaut in 1966, for "Fahrenheit 451," where she took on two different roles, alongside Oskar Werner.

"Petulia" was directed in 1968 by Richard Lester, who is most famous for his work with The Beatles. The movie combined many stylistic elements typical of the 60s: wild camera movements, psychedelic music, non-linear storytelling and experimental editing. Starring along with George C. Scott, Julie Christie depicted an unhappily married socialite.

In the early 70s, young independent filmmakers of the "New Hollywood" wave offered her roles as well. In 1971, she starred with Warren Beatty in Robert Altman's "anti-western film," "McCabe & Mrs. Miller."

Julie Christie also worked with the best British directors. In 1973, she co-starred with Donald Sutherland in Nicholas Roeg's cult thriller "Don't Look Now." Christie's features, a mysterious plot, a graphic sex scene and breathtaking locations in Venice all contributed to the appeal of this influential work.

"Shampoo" (1975), directed by Hal Ashby, was another movie co-starring Julie Christie and Warren Beatty - the two actors were also dating over several years. The film is set on the day of Richard Nixon's election as President of the United States. Julie Christie plays the wife of a businessman who gets involved with a star hairdresser (Beatty).

After starring in several major films for two decades, the popularity of British actress declined for a while. However, she provided a praised performance in the unabridged movie adaptation of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (1996), as Queen Gertrude.

Julie Christie starred in the 1986 German TV mini-series "Sins of the Fathers," directed by Bernhard Sinkel. In 2004, she worked with another German director, Wolfgang Petersen, in his historical epic "Troy," starring among others Brad Pitt.

The British actress came back into the spotlight 10 years ago with two remarkable performances. Although she was not the main character in the Spanish film directed by Isabel Coixet, "The Secret Life of Words" (2005), she was nevertheless impressive in her supporting role as a psychologist.

The second film, shot one year later, that deeply impressed international critics and audiences was the drama "Away from Her." Christie plays a woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease - an incredible performance that was rewarded with numerous prizes.