Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91: Screen Icon, and Star of And God Created Woman
Brigitte Bardot, the legendary French actress who became one of the most recognizable faces in global cinema and later one of France’s most polarizing public figures, has died at the age of 91.
The news was confirmed by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which announced her passing in a statement shared with Agence France-Presse (AFP). The foundation described Bardot as a world-renowned actress and singer who made the extraordinary decision to step away from fame at the height of her career to dedicate her life to animal welfare.
Details regarding the exact time and place of her death were not disclosed. Her passing follows reports that she underwent surgery in October 2025 after battling a serious illness.
From Paris Ballet Student to Global Screen Sensation
Born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot in Paris in September 1934, Bardot began her career not as an actress but as a model. At just 15 years old, she appeared on the cover of Elle magazine, a moment that opened the door to cinema and introduced her to director Roger Vadim, whom she later married.
Her early film roles in Crazy for Love, Manina, the Girl in the Bikini, and The Long Teeth hinted at her potential, but it was her performance in the 1956 film And God Created Woman that changed everything.
The film shocked audiences, shattered conventions, and propelled Bardot into international superstardom. Overnight, she became a defining symbol of sensuality, independence, and modern femininity — a cultural force that extended far beyond cinema.
Stardom, Pressure, and Personal Struggles
As her fame exploded across Europe and the United States, Bardot continued to star in successful films such as Naughty Girl, Plucking the Daisy, La Parisienne, and Babette Goes to War. She later transitioned into Hollywood with Dear Brigitte (1965), opposite James Stewart, and appeared in Shalako (1968) alongside Sean Connery.
Behind the scenes, however, the pressures of fame took a severe toll. Bardot struggled openly with mental health for much of her life and survived multiple suicide attempts. In later interviews, she described celebrity as destabilizing and emotionally destructive, saying she often felt lost within a system that celebrated her image while ignoring her wellbeing.
Walking Away From Fame at 39
In 1973, at just 39 years old, Bardot made a decision that stunned the entertainment world: she retired from acting entirely. Unlike many stars who drift away quietly, Bardot chose a radical second act.
She dedicated herself fully to animal rights activism, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986. Over the decades, the organization became one of Europe’s most influential animal welfare groups, campaigning against animal cruelty, industrial farming, and inhumane slaughter practices.
A Life Marked by Love, Controversy, and Conviction
Bardot’s personal life was as public as her career. She was married four times and had relationships with notable figures including Jean-Louis Trintignant and Warren Beatty. She had one son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, whom she later acknowledged she was emotionally unable to raise amid the chaos of fame.
In later decades, Bardot became increasingly controversial for her outspoken political views. She was repeatedly fined by French courts for comments deemed to incite racial hatred, particularly related to immigration and Islam. Her criticism of religious slaughter practices and immigration policy drew widespread condemnation, even as she defended her statements as extensions of her animal rights advocacy.
In 2018, she further ignited debate by publicly criticizing the #MeToo movement, calling it hypocritical and dismissing claims made by some actresses — comments that were widely condemned across the entertainment industry.
A Complicated Legacy
Brigitte Bardot leaves behind a legacy that is both towering and deeply complex.
She revolutionized cinema, challenged post-war morality, and redefined female autonomy on screen. She also abandoned fame when few dared to, dedicating decades to causes she believed in with relentless intensity. At the same time, her later rhetoric alienated many and placed her at the center of repeated legal and moral controversies.
She is survived by her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, and her son.
Brigitte Bardot was not a figure designed for simplicity or consensus. She lived loudly, defiantly, and entirely on her own terms — leaving behind an indelible mark on cinema, culture, and public discourse that will continue to be debated for generations.
