Brigitte Bardot, Iconic 1960s Sex Symbol and Animal Rights Advocate, Dies at 91
Brigitte Bardot, the legendary French actress of the 1960s and later an outspoken animal rights activist, has died at the age of 91.
According to Bruno Jacquelin of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals, Bardot passed away at her home in southern France on Sunday. No cause of death has been given, and funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, reports The Associated Press. Bardot had been hospitalized just last month.
Bardot first rose to international fame with the 1956 film And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. The film, which featured the young actress in provocative scenes, shocked audiences and established her as one of the most famous s** symbols of the 20th century.
Her signature tousled blonde hair, pouty lips, and confident presence made her an icon of French cinema and pop culture. In 1969, her face was even chosen to represent “Marianne,” the national symbol of France.
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute, writing on X, “We are mourning a legend.”
Ses films, sa voix, sa gloire éblouissante, ses initiales, ses chagrins, sa passion généreuse pour les animaux, son visage devenu Marianne, Brigitte Bardot incarnait une vie de liberté. Existence française, éclat universel. Elle nous touchait. Nous pleurons une légende du siècle.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 28, 2025
After retiring from acting in the 1970s, Bardot reinvented herself as a fierce animal rights advocate. She campaigned against the killing of baby seals, opposed animal testing, and criticized certain religious slaughter practices. “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,” she told The Associated Press in 2007.
Her activism earned her recognition, including the Legion of Honor in 1985. However, her outspoken views later sparked controversy.
Bardot became known for anti-immigrant statements and criticism of Muslim practices, leading to multiple fines for inciting racial hatred in French courts. She also aligned with far-right political figures, including Marine Le Pen, and married Bernard d’Ormale, a former adviser to the National Front.
Bardot was born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot on September 28, 1934, to a wealthy family. She studied ballet as a child and appeared on the cover of Elle magazine at 14. She described her upbringing as strict and difficult, recalling that her father sometimes punished her with a horse whip.
Her film career included 28 movies and three marriages, with her personal life often making headlines. Bardot’s relationships, including her marriages to Roger Vadim, Jacques Charrier, and Gunther Sachs, and her high-profile romances, frequently captured public attention. She had one child, Nicolas, and later spoke openly about the struggles of early motherhood and depression. “I was looking for roots then. I had none to offer,” she reflected in interviews.
Bardot’s early films often showcased her beauty rather than her acting, although her role in Contempt (1963) remains critically acclaimed. She retired from acting at 39 and shifted her focus entirely to animal rights causes, selling her belongings to fund her foundation. Her campaigns spanned the globe, addressing issues from dog meat in South Korea to dolphin captivity in the United States.
Reflecting on her life, Bardot explained the connection between her past and her activism: “I can understand hunted animals because of the way I was treated. What happened to me was inhuman. I was constantly surrounded by the world press.”
Brigitte Bardot leaves behind a complex legacy: a cinematic icon whose beauty and charisma defined an era, and an activist whose passionate work for animals sparked both admiration and controversy.
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