Brigitte Bardot, French film icon turned far-right provocateur, dies at 91

The French star reshaped post-war cinema before retreating from global fame into animal rights activism and, later, far-right politics.Published On 28 Dec 2025Brigitte Bardot, the French actor and singer who became a global sensation before reinventing herself as an animal protection campaigner and outspoken supporter of the far right, has died aged 91.The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announced her death on Sunday, saying “with immense sadness” that its founder and president had died.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton dies aged 79list 2 of 4What we know about Nick Reiner, suspected of killing his father Rob Reinerlist 3 of 4US actress Jennifer Lawrence calls out Gaza genocidelist 4 of 4Hijab: a very French obsessionend of listIn a statement sent to the AFP news agency, the foundation described Bardot 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”. It did not give details about when or where she died.Bardot rose to international fame in 1956 with her role in And God Created Woman, a film that sought to project female sexuality on screen. She went on to appear in about 50 films, becoming one of the most recognisable faces of post-war French cinema.In the early 1970s, Bardot quit acting at the height of her fame, turning her attention to animal protection. While her campaigning earned admiration from supporters, her public life grew increasingly controversial as she embraced far-right politics and made repeated racist and inflammatory remarks.French actress Brigitte Bardot poses with a huge sombrero she brought back from Mexico, as she arrives at Orly Airport in Paris, France, on May 27, 1965 [AP Photo]Her activism hardened into open support for France’s far-right National Front, now known as National Rally, and the party’s longtime leader Marine Le Pen. Over the years, French courts convicted Bardot multiple times for inciting racial hatred.