Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress of the 1960s who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal rights activist and far-right supporter, has passed away at the age of 91, according to Baltimore Chronicle. Bardot died on Sunday at her home in southern France. Bruno Jacquelin of the foundation confirmed her death to The Associated Press, without disclosing a cause, and noted that funeral or memorial arrangements have not yet been announced. She had been hospitalized the previous month.
Bardot first rose to international fame as a teenage bride in the 1956 film And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. The film caused a scandal with scenes of Bardot dancing naked on tables, establishing her as a symbol of sexual liberation and youthful rebellion. Over a career spanning 28 films and three marriages, Bardot became emblematic of a France shedding its bourgeois respectability, with her tousled blonde hair, voluptuous figure, and pouty, irreverent persona earning her global renown. In 1969, her likeness was chosen for Marianne, France’s national emblem, appearing on statues, stamps, and coins. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that “we are mourning a legend.”
Bardot’s second career as an animal rights activist drew worldwide attention. She campaigned against the slaughter of baby seals in the Arctic, opposed animal testing, and criticized ritual slaughter practices. In 2007, on her 73rd birthday, she told The Associated Press, “Man is an insatiable predator. I don’t care about my past glory. That means nothing in the face of an animal that suffers, since it has no power, no words to defend itself.” Her activism earned her the Legion of Honor in 1985. However, in later years, her outspoken views became increasingly controversial, particularly her criticisms of Muslim immigrants and ritual slaughter, which led to five convictions and fines for inciting racial hatred.
Bardot’s fourth marriage in 1992 to Bernard d’Ormale, formerly an adviser to National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, coincided with her political radicalization. She publicly supported Marine Le Pen’s 2012 presidential bid, and Le Pen described her as an “exceptional woman” who was “incredibly French.” Bardot also made headlines in 2018 during the #MeToo movement, dismissing many actors protesting sexual harassment as “hypocritical” and insisting she had never been a victim.
Born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot on September 28, 1934, to a wealthy industrialist family, she trained in classical ballet and appeared on the cover of Elle at age 14. She described her upbringing as “difficult,” citing a strict father who sometimes punished her with a horse whip. Her cinematic breakthrough came with Vadim’s And God Created Woman, which showcased her combination of innocence and raw sexuality and influenced French New Wave directors.
Bardot’s personal life was often tumultuous. Her relationships, including those with actor Jacques Charrier and playboy Gunther Sachs, were widely publicized, and her off-screen life blurred with her public image. Her only son, Nicolas, born in 1960, was largely raised by his father. Bardot’s struggles with depression and the pressures of fame were well-documented in interviews and her 1996 autobiography Initiales B.B.
She retired from film at 39 and dedicated herself to animal advocacy, establishing the Brigitte Bardot Foundation. Her campaigns targeted dog meat consumption in South Korea, dolphin captivity in the U.S., and traditional European sporting events, among other causes. Bardot acknowledged the intensity of her activism, stating that seeing the slow pace of change for animals fueled her commitment.
Bardot’s death marks the passing of a figure who was both a cinematic icon and a polarizing activist, leaving behind a legacy in film, culture, and animal rights.
Earlier we wrote that James Ransone, Star of “It: Chapter Two” and “The Wire,” Dies at 46.
