French film icon Brigitte Bardot has died. She was 91 years old

Her death was confirmed by a representative from her animal charity foundation.The actress died at her home in southern France. According to the Associated Press, no specific cause was given. She was reportedly hospitalized last November.French President Emmanuel Macron led the tributes. He called Bardot a “legend of the century” on social media. He praised her embodiment of freedom and her passion for animals.

From Screen Siren to Cultural Symbol

Bardot became an international sensation in 1956. Her role in *And God Created Woman* broke cinematic taboos. The film was directed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim.It was banned by the Vatican and censored in France. Yet it launched her as a global sex symbol. Her natural beauty and liberated persona defined an era.She starred in over 40 films. Notable works include *The Truth* (1960) and *Contempt* (1963). According to film historians, her performance in Godard’s *Contempt* is considered a career highlight.She shocked the world by retiring from acting at age 39. Bardot then dedicated her life to animal rights activism. She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986.Her later years were marked by philanthropy and controversy. She supported conservative political causes in France. She also made controversial statements about social movements.

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A Legacy of Liberation and Activism

Bardot’s impact extended far beyond cinema. She popularized the bikini and a carefree style. Her image became a symbol of female liberation in post-war Europe.She was also a successful singer. Her duets with Serge Gainsbourg, like “Bonnie and Clyde,” were major hits. Another recording, “Je t’aime… moi non plus,” was initially shelved but later released.Her personal life was constantly in the spotlight. She was married four times and had numerous public affairs. Her 1960 suicide attempt made global headlines.In her final decades, she was a fierce advocate for animals. She campaigned against seal hunting, fur trading, and bullfighting. She often said she gave her “youth to men” and her “wisdom to animals.”

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The world remembers Brigitte Bardot not just as a screen legend, but as a complex woman who lived fiercely on her own terms. Her legacy as a cultural icon and activist endures, marking the end of an era in French cinema and beyond.