The world of cinema and animal activism is in mourning following the death of French film legend Brigitte Bardot at the age of 91. The actress, who became a global sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s before famously renouncing her career, passed away at her home in southern France.
From Silver Screen Siren to Animal Welfare Champion
Brigitte Bardot's death was confirmed by her own foundation, The Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which is dedicated to the protection of animals. The organisation relayed the news to the Associated Press. Known affectionately as 'BB' – from her initials, pronounced 'bebe', the French word for baby – Bardot was one of the most recognisable faces of post-war European cinema.
Her rise to international fame was cemented by her starring role in the 1956 film Et Dieu Crea La Femme (And God Created Woman). The film propelled her to worldwide stardom and established her as a defining style icon of the era, renowned for her blonde hair, full pink lips, and signature heavy kohl eyeliner.
A Cultural Icon Who Inspired a Generation
Bardot's influence extended far beyond the film set, shaping fashion and popular culture for decades. Her impact was so profound that music legends like John Lennon and Bob Dylan paid tribute to her. Lennon once revealed he had a life-size picture of Bardot on his bedroom ceiling, while Dylan wrote his first-ever piece of music, 'Song for Brigitte', in her honour.
Despite the adulation, Bardot made the conscious decision to turn her back on showbusiness at the height of her fame. She retired from acting in 1973 and channelled her energy and public profile into a new passion: animal rights activism.
Legacy of Activism and Battling 'Fake News'
The founding of The Brigitte Bardot Foundation became the central focus of her later life, where she devoted herself entirely to animal welfare causes. Her death follows a period of concern earlier this year when reports emerged that she had been rushed to hospital.
This led to a false hoax in November 2025 that she had died, which prompted the reclusive former actress to speak out publicly. Taking to the social media platform X, Bardot firmly dismissed the rumours, writing: “I’m fine. I don’t know which idiot started this ‘fake news’ about my disappearance tonight, but know that I’m fine and I have no intention of bowing out.”
Brigitte Bardot's legacy is a unique and powerful one, marking two extraordinary lives in one: first as a cinematic pioneer who captured the world's imagination, and second as a fierce, uncompromising advocate for the voiceless.
