Hollywood and the fashion world are mourning the loss of Brigitte Bardot, the French actress and singer who became one of the most recognizable sex symbols of the 20th century.
Bardot, who died aged 91, had been ill in hospital in Toulon, according to local media.
Her animal rights charity confirmed her passing on Sunday morning, announcing in a statement: ‘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 did not specify the exact time or place of her death.
News of Bardot’s passing sparked an immediate outpouring of tributes across social media, with stars sharing iconic images of the French legend and honoring her enduring influence on beauty, cinema and culture.
Sofia Vergara shared a striking black-and-white portrait of Bardot to her Instagram Stories, accompanied by a single red rose emoji.
Hollywood and the fashion world are mourning the loss of Brigitte Bardot, the French actress and singer who became one of the most recognizable sex symbols of the 20th century; seen in 1965
Christie Brinkley reposted a vintage clip celebrating Bardot’s life and legacy, calling her a timeless icon of beauty and strength, while Lindsay Lohan shared a Vogue France tribute image marked ‘Brigitte Bardot 1934–2025,’ adding prayer and dove emojis in a show of respect.
Later Brinkley returned to Instagram to repost a quote from Bardot, which read: ‘I am just a woman who has done whatever she feels like doing.’
Kelly Rowland, Alessandra Ambrosio, Zoe Saldaña, Kacey Musgraves and Amelia Gray were also among the many other celebrities who also paid homage on their Instagram Stories.
Known as the original ‘sex kitten,’ Bardot shot to international fame with her role in the 1956 film And God Created Woman, directed by her first husband Roger Vadim.
Her portrayal of a free-spirited, voluptuous orphan shocked audiences and critics alike, even as it cemented her status as a global star.
Time magazine famously described her as France’s ‘most ogled export,’ a reputation fueled by her modeling work and provocative on-screen roles.
Following the announcement of her death, French president Emmanuel Macron paid tribute, writing on X that Bardot was ‘a legend who embodied a life of freedom.’
He added: ‘Her films, her voice, her dazzling fame, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals… Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom. A French existence, a universal radiance. We mourn a legend of the century.’
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally party, also saluted Bardot as ‘a woman of heart, conviction, and character,’ while her adopted hometown of Saint-Tropez described her as its ‘most radiant ambassador,’ noting that she chose to settle there permanently at the height of her fame to dedicate herself to protecting animals.
Sofia Vergara shared a striking black-and-white portrait of Bardot to her Instagram Stories, accompanied by a single red rose emoji
Christie Brinkley reposted a vintage clip celebrating Bardot’s life and legacy, calling her a timeless icon of beauty and strength
Lindsay Lohan shared a Vogue France tribute image marked ‘Brigitte Bardot 1934–2025,’ adding prayer and dove emojis in a show of respect
Kelly Rowland, Alessandra Ambrosio, Zoe Saldaña and Amelia Gray were also among the many other celebrities who also paid homage on their Instagram Stories
Kacey Musgraves shared a black and white throwback photo of Bardot dancing
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk hailed Bardot as ‘an angel for animals,’ recalling how she sold jewelry and personal possessions to fund sanctuaries and welfare campaigns. ‘Only through protecting animals did she truly bloom,’ Newkirk said, urging the public to honor Bardot’s memory by doing something kind for animals.
Born in Paris on September 28, 1934, Bardot initially trained as a ballet dancer at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris for Music and Dance.
She appeared on the cover of Elle at just 15 and quickly transitioned into modeling and acting, turning heads at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953 when she appeared on the beach in a skimpy bikini.
Over her career, Bardot starred in 47 films and recorded more than 70 songs. Yet fame came at a cost.
She attempted suicide four times, beginning at age 16, and later spoke candidly about her struggles with motherhood, relationships and the pressures of celebrity life.
She retired from acting in 1973, later saying: ‘I gave my youth and my beauty to men. I am now giving my wisdom and experience, the best of myself, to animals.’
In 1986, she founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and became one of the world’s most outspoken animal rights activists, campaigning relentlessly for animal welfare across Europe and beyond.
Brigitte became an animal rights activist after stepping out of the spotlight (seen in Saint-Tropez, France, June 1977)
Brigitte seen in 2001 visiting her dog refuge in Paris
Bardot’s later years were not without controversy, as her support for far-right politics and repeated convictions for inciting racial hatred in France drew criticism.
She lived reclusively in Saint-Tropez with her fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale, largely removed from the spotlight she once dominated.
Still, Bardot’s influence on fashion and beauty remains undeniable.
From the Bardot neckline to her signature bouffant hair and sultry, effortless style, her image continues to inspire designers, models and movie stars decades later.
As tributes continue to pour in from across Hollywood and beyond, Bardot is being remembered not only as a cinematic icon, but as a woman who reshaped fame on her own terms – and who devoted the second half of her life to a cause she believed in fiercely.
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