Brandet was born Alicia Mowat on January 8, 1943, and grew up in West Los Angeles.

She attended San Fernando Valley State College, where she studied theatre.

She reportedly ran out of money, and began working as a model and actress to fund her continued travels.

[2][5] While in Europe, she began using the professional name of Brandet,[2] and appeared in several European films including The Christine Keeler Story, about the Profumo affair, in which she played Mandy Rice-Davies, starring alongside John Drew Barrymore and Yvonne Buckingham.

[6] She also appeared in six Italian films during this time, including Juliet of the Spirits by Federico Fellini, in which she had an uncredited role as a dancer.