Brigitte Bardot was one of the most iconic movie stars of the 20th century, rising to international fame as a symbol of French cinema, beauty and rebellion before stepping away from the spotlight. Bardot later devoted much of her life to animal rights activism and has died at the age of 91, according to a statement shared by her foundation.
“The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation,” the organization said in a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
As fans around the world remember her life and legacy, learn more about the actress below.
Bardot was born on September 28, 1934, in Paris, France. She grew up training in classical ballet before transitioning into modeling and then acting in the early 1950s, a path that would launch her into international stardom.
Bardot became a global sensation in the 1950s after her breakthrough role in And God Created Woman (1956), directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. The film’s success — particularly in the United States — helped turn her into one of cinema’s most recognizable stars and a symbol of sexual liberation.
Throughout her life, Bardot was married four times. Her spouses included director Vadim (who helped launch her career), actor Jacques Charrier (with whom she had her only son), German industrial heir Gunter Sachs, and political consultant Bernard d’Ormale, whom she remained with later in life.
Bardot had one son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, born in 1960 during her marriage to Charrier.
