[kellyhound]

French actress Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, one of the most recognizable sex symbols of the 1960's and a later animal rights activist, has died at the age of 91.

“The Brigitte Bardot Foundation pays tribute to the memory of an exceptional woman who gave everything and gave up everything for a world more respectful of animals,” the Brigitte Bardot Foundation said in a statement.

“Her legacy lives on through the actions and struggles the Foundation continues with the same passion and the same fidelity to her ideals.”

Bruno Jacquelin, a representative of her foundation, confirmed that Bardot died at her home in southern France on Sunday (December 28) after being hospitalized last month but wouldn't give a cause of death and said no funeral or memorial services had yet been arranged.

Bardot gained international fame playing a teen bride in the 1956 movie And God Created Woman and appeared in more than two dozen films during the height of her film career.

Bardot's blonde hair, voluptuous figure and pouty demeanor made her one of France's most recognizable stars, having been chosen to be the model for 'Marianne,' the national emblem of France and the official Gallic seal in 1969, appearing on statues, postage stamps and coins.

"Her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne, Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom. French existence, universal brilliance. She touched us. We mourn a legend of the century," said French president Emmanuel Macron on his X account.

Bardot retired from acting in 1973 at the age of 39 and spent her later years working as an animal rights activist, which included traveling to the Arctic to protest the slaughter of baby seals, as well as condemning the use of animals in laboratory experiments and Muslim slaughter rituals, receiving the Legion of Honor, France's highest recognition, for her activism in 1985.

“Man is an insatiable predator,” Bardot told the Associated Press on her 73rd birthday, in 2007.

“I don’t care about my past glory. That means nothing in the face of an animal that suffers, since it has no power, no words to defend itself.”

[Mr.NoCredit]

Grew up watching her for many years. She was a grand actress.

[IvorySmith]

Sold her body for years and then advocated for rights?

[HIGHTECHDUDE]

I understand she was actually born, Brigitte Olivia Opal Bardot but changed her middle names because her initials on luggage caused men to stare lasciviously at her...

[Tony76]

It's sad when they go young like that.

[winvens]

Her younger sister was far hotter back in the day and not a foul, hateful bigot. Mijanou and her husband still live in Los Angeles with their pack of beloved dogs.

[kellyhound]

For much of the latter part of her life, she lived alone behind high walls in the resort, surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs and horses.

She told French weekly Paris Match in 2024 that she wanted to be buried in her garden.

The Var Prefecture told it had not received any request for a private burial, which would have been needed to bury her in her garden.

So now she will be buried in a cemetery by the sea in the French Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez, local authorities said on Monday.

The funeral ceremony will take place on January 7 at 1000 GMT at Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption church in Saint-Tropez, the municipality said in a statement.

The burial will be held in the strictest privacy but a tribute open to locals and fans will take place at the Pre des Pecheurs area in the old town quarter called La Ponche, the historic centre of the former fishing village.

[rapeWhistle]

Originally Posted by winvens ↗

Her younger sister was far hotter back in the day and not a foul, hateful bigot. Mijanou and her husband still live in Los Angeles with their pack of beloved dogs.

* The younger sister was 'cuter', not 'hotter'.

* Older sister was a based bombshell who, as it turns out, was correct.

[Muertaluna]

After I read her estranged son's book I was more like, fuck her. She's lucky she got to live to an old age being the bitch she was to that kid