Rest in Peace
French Cinema Icon Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91
Brigitte Bardot, the fearless French screen icon who redefined femininity and later devoted her life to defending animals, has died at 91, closing the chapter on a legend who shaped cinema, culture, and conscience for generations.
Brigitte Bardot, the legendary French actress, singer, and animal rights advocate who became a global symbol of sensuality and rebellion in the 1950s and 1960s, has died at the age of 91.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announced her passing today in a statement to French media, expressing "immense sadness" at the loss of its founder and president.
Bardot died in Toulon, France, two months after undergoing what her staff described as "minor surgery" in a statement to AFP. No further details on the cause of death were immediately provided.
Born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot on September 28, 1934, in Paris, she rose to international fame as a model and actress, starring in over 50 films during her career. Often dubbed the "blonde bombshell," Bardot revolutionized cinema by challenging the era's conservative portrayals of women, embodying a new wave of liberation in films like And God Created Woman (1956), directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. Her sultry image and carefree style made her a cultural icon, influencing fashion, music, and pop culture worldwide.
Bardot retired from acting in 1973 at the height of her fame to dedicate her life to animal rights activism. She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, which campaigns against animal cruelty, including seal hunting, bullfighting, and the fur trade. Her efforts earned her both admiration and controversy, including fines for inciting racial hatred in her criticisms of immigration and Islam in France.
Tributes poured in from around the world following the announcement. French President Emmanuel Macron called her a "timeless muse who embodied freedom and audacity," while Hollywood stars and animal rights organizations hailed her as a pioneer. Social media was flooded with clips from her films and photos from her heyday, with fans mourning the end of an era.
Bardot is survived by her fourth husband, Bernard d'Ormale, whom she married in 1992, and her son from a previous marriage. Funeral arrangements have not yet been disclosed.