Brigitte Bardot dead at 91, farewell to legendary French actress

Brigitte Bardot has died. The announcement was released by the Foundation dedicated to one of the most iconic figures of 20th century cinema and culture. An actress, singer and absolute symbol of the 1960s, Bardot was 91 years old. The news immediately sparked a strong wave of emotion in France and around the world, where her name remains inextricably linked to an idea of female freedom, sensuality and rebellion.

“The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the passing of its founder and president, Brigitte Bardot, world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to give up her prestigious career to devote her life and energies to animal welfare and her Foundation” the statement reads. Neither the day nor the place of death is specified in the message.

Retired from the stage for more than fifty years, Brigitte Bardot left an extraordinary cinematic legacy, made up of some fifty films and images that have become symbolic of an era. Her face, voice and style helped redefine the role of women in entertainment and the collective imagination.

Born in Paris in 1934, Bardot achieved international fame in 1956 thanks to Roger Vadim’s film And God Created Woman. That role marked a momentous turning point: “BB” was born, the embodiment of a free, sensual and provocative youth, capable of breaking the moral and cultural conventions of the time. From that moment, she became a global myth, admired and discussed, often the focus of media attention.

For nearly two decades he worked intensively in film, collaborating with some of Europe’s leading directors. Her most famous performances include Henri-Georges Clouzot’s The Truth (1960), Louis Malle’s Private Life (1962), Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt (1963) and Les Pétroleuses (1971). Each role helped solidify her image as a magnetic and nonconformist actress.

At the height of her success, however, Bardot chose to turn her back on show business. Abandoning acting, she devoted herself completely to animal rights advocacy, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986. Since then, her commitment has been tireless and often radical, turning her into one of the best-known animal activists internationally.