Brigitte Bardot, the French screen legend whose beauty and magnetism helped redefine cinema in the 1950s and ’60s, died at age 91 on December 28, 2025.
Her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, revealed that Bardot passed away following a struggle with cancer, bringing clarity to the cause of death nearly two weeks after her death was announced.
He spoke with France’s Paris Match magazine in an interview published on Wednesday, January 7.
D’Ormale Recalled Bardot’s Final Moments
Bardot’s health had been private in her later years, but d’Ormale confirmed that she had been diagnosed with cancer and underwent two operations in an effort to treat it before her passing at her home in La Madrague, Saint-Tropez.
She spent her final weeks with her husband and animals at her villa in La Madrague, in Saint-Tropez, France.
Bardot’s husband offered a glimpse into her last chapter, emphasizing that the cancer and its treatments ultimately overwhelmed her despite her courage and fortitude.
“I never left her side. I watched over her, supported by nurses who came discreetly every day,” d’Ormale told the outlet.
D’Ormale recalled the serene setting of her final moments and the deep bond they shared over their more than three decades of marriage.
He said, “I was half asleep beside her. I sat up when I heard her say, ‘Pioupiou,’ that little nickname we used for each other in private, and then it was over.”
“A sense of peace and tranquility settled over her face. And she became incredibly beautiful again, just like in her youth. You wouldn’t have believed she was 91,” d’Ormale added.
Bardot was honored with a private funeral service at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Catholic Church in Saint-Tropez, followed by a burial in a local cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean.
The ceremonies are expected to reflect the quieter life Bardot chose after retiring from the spotlight.
About Bardot
Born in Paris in 1934, Bardot became one of the most celebrated actresses of her generation.
She shot to international fame with Roger Vadim’s “And God Created Woman” (1956), a role that established her as a symbol of sensuality and cinematic allure.
Over a career spanning more than two dozen films, she became synonymous with the golden age of French cinema, winning fans across the globe for her performances and screen presence.
Bardot shocked the world in 1973 when she retired from acting at the height of her fame, choosing instead to devote her life to animal welfare.
She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, an organization dedicated to protecting animals that has since grown into a major force in the animal rights movement. Her advocacy work, like her acting, became a defining part of her legacy.
Tributes have poured in from around the world for Bardot, with fans, actors and admirers recalling her influence on culture and film.
As France and the world reflect on Bardot’s life, the revelation of her cause of death adds a final chapter to the story of an artist and activist whose influence spanned decades — from silver screen sensation to fierce animal rights champion.
Bless you my precious, precious one. May our BLESSED LORD & SAVIOR hold you safely in HIS loving arms forever. Though I was never able to meet you in person, I loved you regardless & I always will. Maybe if I have been good enough through my life on Earth, I will meet you in HEAVEN. REST IN PEACE sweet one. Thank you for all the beauty you brought to us.