Brigitte Bardot, the French actor and singer who rose to global fame as one of cinema’s most iconic sex symbols before walking away from stardom to dedicate her life to animal rights, has died at the age of 91.
Tributes poured in on Sunday, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, who wrote on social media that Bardot had “embodied a life of freedom” and possessed a “universal brilliance.” He described her as “a legend of the century” as France mourned one of its most famous cultural exports.
Figures from across the political spectrum also reacted. Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party, praised Bardot as “a woman of heart, conviction and character,” calling her a passionate defender of animals and a symbol of courage and freedom. Marine Le Pen herself described Bardot as “exceptional for her talent, courage, frankness and beauty,” adding that she was “incredibly French” and would be deeply missed.
Bardot’s death was announced by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse. The foundation did not specify when or where she died.
“The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president,” the statement said, noting that Bardot chose to abandon her prestigious acting career to devote her life to animal welfare.
The town hall in Saint-Tropez — where Bardot spent childhood holidays and later filmed And God Created Woman — said she helped make the town famous worldwide. Officials called her Saint-Tropez’s “most radiant ambassador” and a vital part of its collective memory.
Bardot exploded onto the international scene in 1956 with And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. The film transformed her into a global icon and, for the next two decades, she came to represent a new, uninhibited image of female sexuality. In the early 1970s, she shocked fans by retiring from acting and shifting her focus to political activism and animal rights.
However, her later years were also marked by controversy. Bardot was repeatedly convicted in French courts for inciting racial hatred over comments about immigration, Islam, ethnic minorities and homosexuality. Between 1997 and 2008, she was fined six times, including a €15,000 penalty for remarks targeting France’s Muslim community.
Born in Paris in 1934, Bardot grew up in a traditional Catholic family and trained as a ballet dancer at the Conservatoire de Paris. She began modeling as a teenager and appeared on the cover of Elle at just 15. Her modeling led to film roles and to meeting Vadim, whom she married in 1952.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Bardot starred in major films including Doctor at Sea, The Truth, Very Private Affair, and Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt. She later appeared in Hollywood productions such as Viva Maria! with Jeanne Moreau and Shalako alongside Sean Connery.
Beyond film, Bardot also enjoyed a music career. She recorded the original version of Serge Gainsbourg’s Je T’Aime… Moi Non Plus, though it was never released at her request due to fears of scandal. Gainsbourg later re-recorded it with Jane Birkin, turning it into a worldwide hit.
In 1973, at just 39, Bardot retired from acting, saying the pressures of fame had overwhelmed her. She went on to become one of the world’s most outspoken animal rights activists, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986 and campaigning against seal hunting, dolphin killings, and animal slaughter practices worldwide.
Bardot was married four times and had one son. Her life — filled with fame, rebellion, activism, and controversy — left an indelible mark on French culture and global cinema, ensuring her legacy will be debated and remembered for generations to come.
