Brigitte Bardot dies aged 91

Brigitte Bardot, the French film icon whose career helped redefine cinematic allure and global pop culture, has died at the age of 91, her foundation and French media outlets reported on Sunday.

Bardot’s death was confirmed by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in a statement today, with no immediate details released on the cause or location of her passing.

Bardot first rose to international prominence in the 1950s with her breakthrough role in And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim, which made her an emblem of sexual liberation and a defining screen presence of her era. Over the course of her career, she appeared in dozens of films across French and international cinema, earning acclaim for performances that combined beauty, charisma, and emotional depth.

After retiring from acting in 1973 at the height of her fame, Bardot dedicated her life to animal welfare, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986. The organisation became one of Europe’s most prominent animal rights groups, advocating against seal hunts, laboratory testing and other practices Bardot saw as cruel. Her passionate activism won her admiration from animal lovers worldwide but was accompanied by controversy later in life for outspoken views on politics and social issues.

Born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot in Paris in 1934, she began her public career as a model before making her mark on the silver screen. Known universally by her initials “B.B.,” she became one of the 20th century’s most recognisable cultural figures, influencing fashion, film, and attitudes toward femininity. Bardot’s legacy, marked by both pioneering artistic achievement and complex public debate, endures across generations.

The news of Bardot’s death comes just weeks after she publicly denied earlier reports of declining health, and follows a period of hospital treatment and recuperation earlier in 2025.