The French Riviera town of Saint-Tropez bid a final farewell to one of its most famous residents on Wednesday, as film legend and animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot was laid to rest. The funeral, broadcast live on large screens across the town, drew a mix of family, celebrities, and political figures, most notably the far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
A Final Journey Through Saint-Tropez
The ceremony began with a procession through the heart of Bardot's long-time home. According to local reports, crowds gathered and cheered as the funeral cortege passed through the iconic Place des Lices and by the port. Pallbearers then carried her coffin into the Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church as music by the opera singer Maria Callas played, marking a poignant end to her public journey.
Bardot died at her La Madrague villa on 28 December at the age of 91. Her husband, Bernard d'Ormale, later confirmed to Paris Match that her death was due to cancer. He revealed she had undergone two operations and handled them "very well" before the illness "took her" last month.
A Life of Fame, Controversy, and Activism
The service reflected the complex tapestry of Bardot's life. She shot to international stardom in the 1950s, revolutionising French cinema and becoming a global symbol of sexual liberation with films like And God Created Woman.
However, she abandoned acting in the 1970s to dedicate herself to animal welfare, founding the influential Brigitte Bardot Foundation. Bruno Jacquelin, the foundation's spokesperson, stated beforehand that the ceremony would "reflect who she was" and be simple, as she wished, with her devotion to animals a key theme.
Her later years were also marked by political controversy. She became an outspoken supporter of far-right causes and was convicted five times for inciting racial hatred, particularly against Muslims. She maintained a public admiration for Marine Le Pen, once calling her a modern-day "Joan of Arc," and expressed support for the National Rally's anti-immigration platform.
Attendees and Reactions
Among those attending the funeral were her son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, 65, singers Jean-Roch and Mireille Mathieu, TV personality Caroline Margeridon, and conservationist Paul Watson. Marine Le Pen, who has cited Bardot as a model for Marianne, the symbol of the French republic, was a prominent guest.
The reaction to her death was mixed, highlighting her paradoxical legacy. While many mourned the cinematic icon and fierce animal advocate, others criticised her political views. Sandrine Rousseau, a Green party politician, questioned: "To be moved by the fate of dolphins but remain indifferent to the deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean – what level of cynicism is that?"
The funeral in Saint-Tropez ultimately served as a final, public chapter for a figure who captivated, charmed, and divided public opinion for over half a century.
