Brigitte Bardot dies at 91

French film legend Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91, her foundation announced. With her passing, France loses one of the most influential and controversial cultural figures of the 20th century—a woman who reshaped cinema, fashion, and public debate.

Rising to international fame in the 1950s, Bardot became a global star with films such as And God Created Woman, The Truth, Contempt, and Viva Maria!. Known simply as “B.B.,” she embodied a new image of female freedom and sensuality, turning her into one of the most photographed women in the world and a defining symbol of her era.

At the height of her fame, Bardot made a radical choice. In the early 1970s she retired from acting and dedicated her life to animal rights. She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, selling personal possessions to finance campaigns for the protection of animals worldwide—a cause that would define the rest of her life.

In later years, Bardot also drew criticism for provocative political statements, which often overshadowed her earlier artistic achievements. Yet her legacy remains complex and enduring: a cinematic icon, a cultural phenomenon, and a woman who consistently followed her own convictions, regardless of the cost.