Brigitte Bardot dies at 91

Legendary French actress and animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91, her foundation announced in a statement to Agence France-Presse.

PARIS — Brigitte Bardot, one of the most influential figures in 20th-century cinema and later a passionate animal rights activist, has died aged 91, her foundation announced in a statement released on 28 December 2025. The news, confirmed by AFP and reported by major international outlets, marks the end of an era for French cultural history.

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation — which she founded in 1986 to fight cruelty toward animals around the world — expressed deep sadness in sharing the news. According to the statement shared with French and international news agencies, Bardot dedicated her life to protecting animals after leaving the glamour of the film world behind.

Rise to Stardom — A Global Icon

Bardot’s rise to fame began with her breakout role in 1956’s And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. The film catapulted her into international stardom and made her an emblem of beauty, sensuality and the changing cultural tides of the postwar era.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, she starred in a string of French and international films, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in cinema and a symbol of women’s evolving role in popular culture.

From Screen to Advocacy

In 1973, at the height of her fame, Bardot retired from acting to focus on causes beyond the screen. She channeled her energy into animal welfare work, campaigning against seal hunts, animal testing, inhumane slaughter practices and more. Her foundation became one of Europe’s most vocal organizations for animal rights.

Her activism earned her global admiration, though her outspoken opinions on other issues — including immigration and Islam in France — later made her a more controversial figure and led to legal fines for inciting racial hatred.

Marriages and romantic life

She was married four times and had many high-profile relationships throughout her life.

• Roger Vadim (1952–1957): Her first husband, the director of And God Created Woman, who helped shape her early screen image; they divorced as her fame grew.
• Jacques Charrier (1959–1962): Her second husband; they had her only child, son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, born in 1960.
• Gunter Sachs (1966–1969): Her third husband was a wealthy German playboy; their marriage was highly publicized but short-lived.
• Bernard d’Ormale (from 1992 until her death): Her fourth husband, a political advisor, was her longtime partner in later life.

By her own account, she had around 17 romantic relationships over her life, often leaving one when passion faded for another.

Struggles and personal challenges

Bardot struggled with the pressures of fame, including mental health difficulties and an attempted suicide in her youth during the turmoil of her early career and romantic life.

In a 2025 documentary, at age 91 she spoke openly about lifelong battles with depression and loneliness, revealing she had survived more than one suicide attempt and felt deeply affected by her rapid rise to global stardom.

A Life of Influence and Complexity

Born on 28 September 1934 in Paris, Bardot began her artistic journey as a ballet student and fashion model before conquering the silver screen. Her influence extended far beyond film — shaping fashion, popular culture and ideas about femininity in the 20th century.

Fans and fellow artists around the world are already honoring her memory, reflecting on a life that was at once dazzling, contentious and deeply impactful.

No details about funeral or memorial arrangements have yet been released.