Brigitte Bardot Death at 91: The Rise and Complex Legacy of a Global Icon

She seduced the world, then walked away to save it. Brigitte Bardot, the blonde bombshell who revolutionized cinema and redefined femininity in the 1950s, has passed away at the age of 91. According to reports from Reuters, the woman who once put French cinema on the global map spent her final decades as a fierce advocate for animal welfare, though her legacy remains entangled with legal controversies over her personal views.

Brigitte Bardot Death at 91: From Sex Symbol to Cultural Rebel

Born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, Bardot's journey began far from the rebelliousness she'd later embody. Raised in a strict Catholic household, she found her escape in ballet. By 15, her fresh look on the cover of Elle magazine shattered the era's stiff fashion standards. With her athletic dancer's physique and untamed blonde hair, she became the face of a new generation.

The turning point came in 1956 with the film And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. Her portrayal of a woman unashamed of her own desires was a seismic shift in cinema. While philosophers like Simone de Beauvoir hailed her as a pioneer of freedom, conservative groups denounced the film as depraved, fueling the very legend that made her the highest-paid actress in France.

A Life Dedicated to Animals

After nearly 50 films, Bardot walked away from acting in 1973. She famously stated that while she gave her beauty to men, she would give her wisdom to animals. She auctioned her jewelry and memorabilia to raise 3 million francs to start the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, campaigning against seal hunting and the fur trade for the rest of her life.

However, Bardot's later years were also marked by sharp criticism. She was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred and making homophobic remarks, legal battles that the prosecution eventually called "weary." Despite these controversies, her impact on French cinema and the popularization of the bikini ensures her place as a permanent, if complicated, fixture in cultural history.