French actress Brigitte Bardot, who revolutionised 1950s French cinema and became a symbol of sexual liberation, has died aged 91.
The cinema icon—BB as she was known in her home country—acted in almost 50 films, including And God Created Woman, but retired in 1973 to devote her life to animal welfare.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the nation was mourning a legend of the century, while the Brigitte Bardot Foundation remembered her as a world-renowned actress.
Later in life, Bardot's reputation was damaged after she made homophobic slurs and was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation she established said in a statement that it announced her death with immense sadness. They praised her for abandoning her prestigious career to dedicate her life to animal welfare.
Paying tribute, Macron stated, Her films, her voice, her dazzling glory... Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom. Meanwhile, French far-right politician Marine Le Pen acknowledged her as an exceptional woman, through her talent, courage, and beauty.
Bardot, who was born in 1934, initially sought to become a ballerina. Her discovery as a model led to her breakout role, and throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, she became a global phenomenon, known for her beauty and unique portrayals in films.
Despite her cinematic successes and contributions to animal welfare, Bardot's later remarks on Islam, the LGBT community, and the #MeToo movement stirred controversy, impacting her legacy.
