Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91: The Polarizing Legacy of a French Cinema Icon

The face that defined an era of liberation and cinematic revolution has fallen silent. Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress who became the definitive symbol of the French New Wave, has died at the age of 91.

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announced her passing on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The statement noted that Bardot, who abandoned her prestigious acting career to dedicate her life to animal welfare, died peacefully. While no specific cause was given, the news comes just months after she underwent surgery in October for a serious illness and spent three weeks in hospital care.

Brigitte Bardot Death 91: A Journey from Screen to Activism

Born in 1934, Bardot's rise was meteoric. After debuting as a model at age 15, she captured global attention in Roger Vadim's 'And God Created Woman'. She wasn't just an actress; she was a cultural phenomenon of the 1950s and 1960s. Collaborating with auteurs like Jean-Luc Godard, she embodied the sexual liberation of her generation. Even after retiring at age 39 in 1973, her influence on fashion—from the Bardot neckline to the popularization of the bikini—remained indelible.

A Legacy Marred by Political and Social Controversy

However, Bardot's later years were frequently clouded by polarizing views. She was fined multiple times for "inciting racial hatred" following derogatory comments about immigrants and various ethnic groups. Her alignment with far-right politicians like Marine Le Pen further alienated many of her former admirers.

In 2018, she sparked international backlash by criticizing the #MeToo movement, calling it "hypocritical" and suggesting that many actresses were merely seeking attention. She also faced criticism for homophobic remarks in her published works, creating a stark contrast between her image as a symbol of freedom and her restrictive social stances.