Paris, December 28, 2025 (Agencies) – French film icon Brigitte Bardot, a symbol of sexual liberation in the 1950s and 1960s who later reinvented herself as a prominent animal rights activist, died on Sunday at the age of 91, her foundation said.
Bardot died at her home, La Madrague, in Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera, according to a statement issued by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation. The foundation said its founder and president had passed away after dedicating decades of her life to animal welfare following her retirement from cinema. The cause of death was not disclosed.
“She chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation,” the statement said, describing Bardot as a world-renowned actor and singer whose influence extended far beyond film.
Tributes poured in from across France, with President Emmanuel Macron hailing Bardot as a legend of the 20th century who “embodied a life of freedom” and left a lasting mark on French and global culture. Known universally by her initials “BB,” Bardot became one of the most recognizable faces of post-war cinema.
Born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, Bardot was raised in a well-off, traditional Catholic family. She was married four times and had one son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, with her second husband, actor Jacques Charrier.
Bardot rose to international fame after starring in And God Created Woman in 1956, a role that made her an icon of modern femininity and helped redefine female sexuality on screen. She went on to appear in around 50 films before abruptly retiring from acting in 1973 at the age of 39.
Turning away from celebrity life, Bardot devoted herself entirely to animal rights, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and becoming one of Europe’s most vocal advocates for animal welfare. She once said she had left cinema because she was “sick of being beautiful every day.”
In her later years, Bardot also courted controversy for her outspoken views, including repeated expressions of support for far-right causes, which led to legal troubles and public criticism in France.
Despite the controversies, Bardot remains one of the most influential figures in the history of French cinema, remembered both for her groundbreaking screen presence and her lifelong commitment to animal protection.