Actor, singer, sex symbol and style icon Brigitte Bardot, who turned her back on movie stardom in 1973 to become an animal rights activist, has died at the age of 91. Her death was announced on Sunday, December 28, 2025, by her foundation, which stated she passed away at her home in southern France.
Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s and 1960s, notably after starring in the 1956 film And God Created Woman. Known as “B.B.,” she appeared in 56 films and became a global symbol of sexual liberation. In 1969, her features were used as the model for Marianne, the national emblem of the French Republic.
At the height of her fame in 1973, she retired from acting at age 39 to dedicate her life to animal welfare. She established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, campaigning against seal hunting, animal testing, and the consumption of horse and dog meat. In later life, Bardot became a vocal supporter of France’s far-right National Rally (formerly Front National).
President Emmanuel Macron hailed her as a “legend of the century,” stating that she “embodied a life of freedom” and a “universal radiance.” Marine Le Pen described Bardot as “incredibly French: free, untamable, whole.”
Bardot had recently survived health scares in late 2025, having been hospitalized in October and November before publicly denying death rumors just weeks prior to her passing.
Actress!
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