The world of cinema and activism is in mourning following the death of French actress and style icon Brigitte Bardot at the age of 91. Bardot, who passed away on Sunday 28 December 2025, was a defining cultural figure of the 20th century, first as a boundary-breaking film siren and later as a dedicated campaigner for animal welfare.
From Parisian Rebel to Global Sex Symbol
Born in Paris in 1934, Brigitte Bardot rebelled against a strict upbringing to first find work as a model in the early 1950s. Her rise to international stardom was cemented in 1956 with the film …And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. The film's frank depiction of female sensuality scandalised conservative post-war society and ignited a sexual revolution.
Bardot quickly became a household name, known simply by her initials 'BB'. She embodied a new, bold, and unapologetic kind of female sexuality on screen. With her signature soft fringe and cat-eye liner, she became a lasting style icon. Over her career, she starred in more than 40 films, working with acclaimed directors like Jean-Luc Godard in Le Mépris (Contempt) and proving her range extended far beyond the seductive ingenue.
As a singer, she was the muse for Serge Gainsbourg's erotic classic Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus. French President Emmanuel Macron led tributes, stating she "embodied a life of freedom" and was a "legend of the century" whose face became synonymous with Marianne, the national symbol of France.
A Sudden Exit and a Life Reclaimed
In a move that stunned the world, Brigitte Bardot retired from acting in 1973 at the age of just 39. She famously declared, "I gave my youth and my beauty to men. I am going to give my wisdom and experience to animals." She later expressed feeling "used" by the film industry and media, uncomfortable with the intense public scrutiny and objectification.
Her passion for animal welfare became her life's work. In 1986, she founded The Brigitte Bardot Foundation, an organisation dedicated to combating animal cruelty, funding sanctuaries, and supporting wildlife rescue operations globally. This activism became her primary focus for over five decades.
A Complex and Controversial Legacy
While revered for her cinematic influence and animal advocacy, Bardot's later years were also marked by controversy. Her 2003 book, A Cry In Silence, led to a conviction for incitement to racial hatred against Muslims. She received several fines in subsequent years, including one in 2021, for statements deemed racist, often made in the context of her animal campaigning.
Despite this, she remained a popular and influential figure to many. Brigitte Bardot's legacy is thus a multifaceted one: a revolutionary screen icon who redefined femininity, a pioneering activist who walked away from glamour for her principles, and a complex public figure whose later statements sparked significant debate. Her indelible impact on film, fashion, and animal rights advocacy ensures she will be remembered as a true icon of her century.
