Brigitte Bardot, the French screen icon turned animal rights activist, has died at 91, according to French media and the Associated Press. Once dubbed a “sex kitten” and hailed as a symbol of freedom and female liberation, Bardot became an international star after And God Created Woman (1956) and appeared in more than 40 films before retiring from acting in 1973.
She devoted the rest of her life to animal welfare, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and campaigning against animal abuse worldwide. French leaders paid tribute to her cultural impact, while her legacy remains controversial due to her later support for far-right politics and repeated convictions for racist remarks. Bardot died at her home in southern France after recent health issues; funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.