Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, the French actress, singer, model and activist whose presence reshaped cinema, popular music and the image of women in post-war culture, has died at her Saint-Tropez home La Madrague on 28 December 2025, aged 91.
To the world she was B.B., a figure whose influence stretched far beyond the screen. Bardot acted in 47 films, recorded more than 60 songs, appeared in musical productions and became one of the most recognisable faces of the 20th century. Even after walking away from entertainment in 1973, her cultural impact only deepened, as she redirected her global profile toward activism, particularly animal welfare, and in doing so remained a defining public voice for more than five decades.
Born in Paris on 28 September 1934, Bardot trained initially as a ballerina, studying at the Conservatoire de Paris under Russian choreographer Boris Knyazev. That discipline shaped the physical confidence that would later define both her screen presence and her musical performances. A teenage modelling assignment for Elle magazine led to her discovery, and by the early 1950s she was moving steadily into film.
International fame arrived with And God Created Woman in 1956. The film’s success transformed Bardot into a global sensation and positioned her as a symbol of a new, unapologetic female independence. French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir famously described her as a “locomotive of women’s history”, recognising that Bardot’s on-screen freedom represented a decisive shift in how women were seen, and how they saw themselves.
While cinema made her famous, music broadened her reach. Bardot recorded multiple albums and singles during the 1960s and early 1970s, working with leading composers and songwriters of the era including Serge Gainsbourg, Sacha Distel and Bob Zagury.
Her recordings, among them Brigitte Bardot Sings, B.B. and Bonnie And Clyde, positioned her as a pop figure whose voice carried the same intimacy and provocation as her film roles. Songs such as La Madrague, Harley Davidson, Contact and Tu Veux, Ou Tu Veux Pas? became emblematic of the era’s blend of cinema, fashion and pop music.
Her collaboration with Gainsbourg produced one of popular music’s most discussed recordings, Je T’aime… Moi Non Plus. Although Bardot asked for the original version to be shelved, its later release cemented her place in music history and underscored her role as a muse whose influence crossed artistic boundaries. Musicians including Bob Dylan, The Beatles and later generations of pop artists openly acknowledged her impact.
On screen, Bardot moved between commercial success and artistic ambition. She starred in films by Jean-Luc Godard, Louis Malle and Henri-Georges Clouzot, earning major international awards including the David di Donatello for The Truth. Her performances in Le Mépris, Viva Maria! and Babette Goes To War confirmed her as more than an icon, she was a performer capable of anchoring complex, modern characters.
In 1973, at the height of her fame, Bardot retired from acting, describing the decision as a way to leave “elegantly”. From that point forward, her energy shifted almost entirely to activism. In 1986 she founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals, funding it personally and using her name to campaign against seal hunting, animal cruelty, factory farming and blood sports. She became one of the most recognisable animal-rights advocates in the world, earning honours from UNESCO, PETA and the United Nations Environment Programme.
Bardot’s activism, and her outspoken nature, also brought controversy, particularly around her political statements. Yet even critics acknowledged her consistency, she spoke with the same intensity she once brought to the screen and studio. Until her final years she remained actively involved in her foundation’s work, writing letters, funding campaigns and lending her voice to causes she believed were morally urgent.
Beyond politics and protest, Bardot’s legacy rests in how decisively she altered popular culture. She redefined glamour, popularised the bikini, inspired fashion, music and film, and demonstrated that a woman could control her image while challenging social norms. Artists from Andy Warhol to Kylie Minogue, and musicians across generations, drew from her image and attitude.
Brigitte Bardot is survived by her son Nicolas and her grandchildren. She leaves behind a body of work that spans cinema and song, and a legacy defined by independence, conviction and lasting cultural change.
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