Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91, according to reports confirmed on December 28. French media shared the news earlier today, bringing an end to the life of one of the most recognizable figures in post war cinema.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation confirmed her passing in a statement released publicly. The organization described her as a world-renowned actress and singer who walked away from fame to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and the foundation she created.
Details about the exact timing of her death have not been made public. She is believed to have died at her home in the south of France, where she lived quietly in recent years away from the spotlight she once dominated.
The announcement comes just weeks after reports circulated claiming Bardot was seriously ill and hospitalized. Those claims were denied at the time by her representatives, who pushed back against what they described as false information.
In response to those earlier rumors, her foundation said she was recovering and asked for privacy. They also shared her message to supporters, saying she wanted to reassure those concerned and added, “I send my love to you all.”
During her acting career, Bardot appeared in as many as 47 films. Some of her best known titles include Babette Goes To War, Contempt, The Truth, Viva Maria!, and And God Created Woman.
By the end of the 1950s, she was reportedly the highest paid actress in France. Her image and presence made her one of the most recognizable faces in cinema around the world during that era.
Despite her fame, Bardot chose to leave the film industry at the age of 39. She stepped away from show business to focus on animal rights and causes that became central to the rest of her life.
Following the news of her death, tributes began appearing online almost immediately. Many described her as an icon of French cinema, a fashion symbol, and a fearless voice for animal rights.
Public figures also shared their reactions, including one message that read, “RIP Brigitte Bardot, 91. The greatest movie sex symbol of them all, and the woman who made St Tropez the coolest place in the world.”
