Brigitte Bardot, French Screen Legend and Animal Rights Activist, Dies at 91
Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress and animal rights advocate, has died at the age of 91, with the news reported on December 28, 2025. Born in Paris in 1934, Bardot rose to international fame as a sex symbol following her breakthrough role in the 1956 film And God Created Woman.
She retired from acting in 1973 at the age of 39 and then committed herself to animal rights activism, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986. Bardot was actively involved in various animal protection campaigns, including protests against seal hunts in 1977 and writing letters opposing animal slaughter worldwide.
In addition to her activism, she pursued right-wing politics, expressing support for France’s Front National. Bardot was convicted in 2003 of inciting racial hatred related to her work A Cry in the Silence and wrote a controversial letter in 2006 criticizing France’s Muslim population.
Bardot was married four times: to Roger Vadim (1952–57), Jacques Charrier (1959–62) with whom she had a son, Nicolas, born in 1960, Gunter Sachs (1966–69), and Bernard d’Ormale (from 1992). She was also romantically linked to Serge Gainsbourg and Jean-Louis Trintignant.
Her influence extended to culture, notably through film and music. Notable films include The Truth, Contempt, and Very Private Affair. She also recorded the song Je T’Aime ... Moi Non Plus with Serge Gainsbourg, further cementing her status as a cultural icon.
