Brigitte Bardot, the French actress, global sex symbol, and lifelong animal-rights activist, has died at the age of 91. The news was confirmed by AFP and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which announced the passing of its founder and president with deep sadness.

A defining figure of the 1950s and 1960s, Bardot rose to international fame with And God Created Woman (1956), directed by Roger Vadim, becoming a symbol of sensual freedom and modern womanhood. Starring in 47 films and recording music with Serge Gainsbourg, she shaped popular culture far beyond cinema—popularizing the bikini, inspiring fashion trends, and influencing generations of artists, musicians, and intellectuals.

At the height of her fame, Bardot made a radical decision: in 1973, she abandoned her film career entirely to dedicate her life to animal welfare. Through her foundation, she became one of the world’s most outspoken advocates for animal rights.

Both celebrated and controversial, Bardot challenged social norms with her unapologetic sexuality and independence. In 1959, Simone de Beauvoir famously called her “the locomotive of women’s history,” recognizing her as a symbol of postwar female liberation.

Brigitte Bardot leaves behind a complex legacy—one of beauty and rebellion, vulnerability and conviction, and a lasting impact on culture, fashion, feminism, and animal protection.