Brigitte Bardot, French actress and singer, passed away at the age of 91 on December 28, 2025 was born as Brigitte Anne Marie Bardot on September 28, 1934 to a wealthy industrialist. A shy and private child, she studied classical music and singing and was discovered by a family friend who put her on the cover of L.A. magazine at the age of 14. This early attention set her on the path to stardom.
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Rise to global fame
Bardot became a worldwide sensation with her role as a teenage bride in And God Created Woman 1956 directed by her then husband Roger Vadim. The film is controversial for scenes of actors dancing unclothed on tables, which made her a sex symbol. Over her career, which included roughly 28 films and four marriages, she became a symbol of the French breaking away from strict traditions.
Her iconic blonde hair, shapely figure and playful, confident charm made Bardot one of France’s best-known stars. In 1969, her features were chosen to represent Marianne, the national emblem of France, appearing on statues, postal stamps and coins.
Later in life, Bardot drew criticism for her far-right political views and outspoken stance on immigration. In 2018, during the height of the #MeToo movement, she called many actors protesting harassment “hypocritical,” stating she had never felt victimised.
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Bardot’s activism
After retiring from films at 39 in 1973, Bardot turned to animal rights. She travelled to the Arctic to highlight seal hunts, opposed animal testing in labs and spoke against sending monkeys into space. Her work earned her the Legion of Honour in 1985. BrunoJacqueline, director of her NGO for animal protection, confirmed her passing and said no funeral or memorial arrangements have been made yet.
Bardot’s unforgettable films, including The Truth (1960), Shalako (1968) and Don Juan (1973), combined with her activism, positioned her as a figure of fascination worldwide first as a daring actress, then as a passionate activist.
