Brigitte Bardot, Iconic French Actress and Animal Rights Activist, Dies at 91
Brigitte Bardot, the celebrated French actress and 1950s icon known for reshaping cinema's portrayal of women and symbolizing sexual liberation, died aged 91. She was born in Paris on 28 September 1934.
Her breakthrough role came in the 1956 film "And God Created Woman," directed by Roger Vadim, which caused uproar in the United States and was banned in some states. Vadim and Bardot married in 1952, with their wedding photos sold to Paris-Match; the couple later divorced. Bardot sought more serious acting roles, earning critical acclaim for "Le Mépris (Contempt)" and becoming France's highest-paid actress, although her international output was mixed.
Bardot had three marriages, including one to a wealthy German playboy, and had a son, Nicolas, in 1959 with Vadim. She reportedly resented the pregnancy, and her son later sued her for emotional damage over a remark she made about giving birth to a dog.
In 1973, Bardot retired from acting to focus on animal welfare, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation with about 3 million francs. She campaigned against seal culls, the fur trade, and the treatment of Romanian stray dogs. Bardot became a vegetarian and was outspoken in her criticism of animal treatment practices.
In her later years, Bardot faced multiple prosecutions for racial hatred; in 1999 she was fined for remarks about foreigners and Muslims. By 2008, a prosecutor expressed weariness over charging her repeatedly. She is survived by her fourth husband, Bernard d'Ormale.
