French actress Brigitte Bardot died at her Saint-Tropez home on the French Riviera. No immediate cause of death was announced, but she was 91.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation reported her death on Sunday, December 28. The foundation shared a heartfelt statement about her passing, revealing that it was “immense sadness” that they shared the news of her passing, and referred to her as “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 statement reads, The Guardian reports. Bardot lived a fascinating life, and this is some of it shown through ten stunning photos.
Brigitte Bardot’s Life
GettyBardot was a celebrated French actress, but she was also a dedicated animal rights activist and passionate animal lover.
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GettyBardot was celebrated for her beauty and her glamor, with some of her memorable onscreen work including “Rum Runners,” “And God Created Women,” “Love Is My Profession,” and “Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman.”
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GettyBardot was married four times. Her first husband was French filmmaker and screenwriter, Roger Vadim. She and Vadim married in 1952 and divorced in 1957.
GettyBardot’s second husband was actor Jacques Charrier, whom she married in 1959. Bardot and Charrier had one child, Nicolas Charrier, born in 1960. However, the actress was never maternal and made harsh remarks about motherhood, pregnancy, and the birth of her son. When she and Jacques divorced in 1962, he gained custody of their child.
GettyBardot would later marry Gunter Sachs in 1966. Their relationship lasted three years.
GettyHer longest-lasting marriage was her fourth one to Bernard d’Ormale, whom she married in 1992.
GettyTributes for Brigitte Bardot
GettySocial media has been flooded with tributes to Bardot, with heads of state, animal rights organizations, celebrities, and fans paying their respects. Among the reactions is one from French President Emmanuel Macron.
His translated message on X reads, “With her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, and her face that became Marianne, Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom.”
Supermodel Claudia Schiffer also shared an emotional message on Instagram after Bardot’s passing, writing, “Heartbroken to hear of our loss of Brigitte Bardot. I will always be inspired by her devotion to animals, listening to her music, the glamour of her films, and her captivating photoshoots. She is unforgettable, and to be compared to her has been one of my greatest honours. Rest in peace.”
