December 29, (THEWILL) — French film icon, Brigitte Bardot, a leading figure of 1950s and 1960s French cinema, who later devoted her life to protecting animals, has died, aged 91, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation announced on Sunday.
The foundation said in a statement that Bardot, its founder and president, gave up her prestigious film career to devote her life and energy to animal welfare. It did not specify when or where she died.
“The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation.”
Born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, Bardot became an international star after her role in And God Created Woman in 1956. She appeared in about 50 films, including Contempt and Viva Maria!, before retiring from acting in 1973.
After leaving the cinema, Bardot left public life and settled in Saint-Tropez, where she devoted herself to protecting abandoned animals
In 1986, she founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which continues its work in animal welfare.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, paid tribute, describing her as a “legend”, and wrote:
“With her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials (BB), her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, and her face that became Marianne, Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom.”
Bardot was married four times and had one child, Nicolas, with her second husband, actor Jacques Charrier.
In her later years, Bardot became a controversial figure for her outspoken political views and was convicted several times in France for hate speech.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
