Tributes pour in for Brigitte Bardot, who dies aged 91
Legendary actor and singer Brigitte Bardot, who rose to fame in the 1950s for her role in And God Created Woman before becoming an animal rights activist, has passed away at the age of 91 due to a sudden illness.
This comes following previous speculation about Bardot’s passing, which she denied on social media after being treated at Saint-Jean private hospital for surgery. Bardot passed away due to complications from the surgery at her home in Saint-Tropez. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation broke the news.
The Foundation shared a statement which read, “The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation.”
Bardot earned her label as the quintessential “sex kitten” following her role in 1956’s And God Created Woman, which was filmed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim, whom she married at the age of 18. The years that followed would see her cast in iconic titles like Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Oscar-nominated The Truth, Jean-Luc Godard’s Le Mépris, Louis Malle’s Viva Maria!, A Very Private Affair, and more.
Alongside her film career, Bardot also recorded music, beginning with her debut album, Brigitte Bardot Sings, in 1963. Her music venture also saw her collaborating with many esteemed names in the industry, most notably Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she recorded two songs: ‘Je t’aime… moi non plus’ and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’.
Labelled as the “most liberated woman of France” by Simone de Beauvoir, Bardot eventually became fatigued and disillusioned with the film industry, and announced her retirement in 1973 at the age of 39, later saying she “was never really prepared for the life of a star”.
Following her retirement, Bardot became an animal rights activist and launched her own foundation, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation. During this time, she sent protest letters to world leaders and spoke out on several animal rights topics and issues.
Beyond her achievements, Bardot’s strong views drew several controversies, including court charges of inciting racial hatred, as well as criticism for denouncing the MeToo movement after saying it was “not my thing”.
Following the news of her death, tributes from the world of film are pouring in, each honouring her legacy and her contributions to the film and music industries.
The first comes from Mubi France, which took to X to share an image of Bardot in tribute, captioned by her birth year and the date she passed away. BAFTA also honoured the late cinema icon, commemorating her award nomination for Viva Maria! in 1967.
French President Emmanuel Macron also paid tribute on social media. “Her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne, Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom,” he wrote. “French existence, universal brilliance. She touched us. We mourn a legend of the century.”
The town of Saint-Tropez wrote on Facebook that Bardot was an “icon” of French cinema who helped to make the town “shine”.
French actor Pierre Arditi described her as “the most beautiful woman in the world” who “had a courage that men still don’t reference”. He went on, “If she cared so deeply about animals, it’s probably because she had been disappointed by men – all men – and I understand that. We are relatively disappointing; I can speak for my own gender.”
See all tributes below.
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