Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress, singer, sex symbol, and style icon who profoundly influenced international cinema and later became a controversial figure for her right-wing political views, has died at the age of 91. Her death was confirmed on Sunday at her southern France home by Bruno Jacquelin of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals, though no cause of death or funeral arrangements have been announced. Bardot had been hospitalized just a month prior to her passing.

Born Camille Javal into an upper-middle-class Parisian family, Bardot initially pursued a career in dance, studying ballet and attending Hattemer’s private school and the Paris Conservatory. Her foray into the spotlight began at age 15 when she modeled for the cover of Elle magazine, a fortuitous event that caught the eye of director Marc Allegret. Although she did not secure a part in his film, Allegret’s assistant, Roger Vadim, recognized her potential. Vadim became her mentor, securing her small roles in films before their highly publicized marriage in 1952, which significantly boosted her nascent career.

Bardot's early acting roles included films like Anatole Litvak’s "An Act of Love" (1953) and "Future Stars," leading to her first lead role in "Doctor at Sea." She collaborated with legendary French director Rene Clair in "The Grand Maneuver" (1956). Her international breakthrough came later in 1956 with "And God Created Woman," written and directed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim. Though only modestly successful in France, the film garnered immense international attention, earning $8.5 million worldwide and igniting a global fascination with boldly sexual European cinema. This film cemented Bardot's image as a "sex goddess," paving the way for a wave of her previous and newer works, such as "Mam’zelle Pigalle," "Please! Mr. Balzac," and "The Girl in the Bikini" (from 1952), to reach American audiences.

Her reign as a box office draw, though relatively brief, had a far-reaching impact on cinema. Bardot, along with Vadim, challenged the rigid censorship of the 1950s by openly exploring sexuality in foreign films, an approach that eventually permeated U.S. and other international productions, signaling an end to decades of strict moral codes. She popularized the archetype of the youthful, pouty, and nubile blonde in cinema, contrasting sharply with the more mature, womanly image epitomized by Marilyn Monroe. This shift, also influenced by Audrey Hepburn, firmly entrenched a rage for youth in female sexuality across all media, a trend that has persisted.

In France, Bardot maintained her top box office status with films like "The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful," "La Parisienne" (showcasing her lighter side), "The Night Heaven Fell," "The Woman and the Puppet," and "In Case of Emergency." Critics like Simone de Beauvoir explored her cultural phenomenon in the 1959 treatise "Brigitte Bardot and the Lolita Syndrome," but her girlish sensuality was by then deeply embedded in popular culture.

Despite her "sex symbol" status, Bardot, who became France's highest-paid film performer, sought to prove herself as a serious actress. She appeared in films such as "Babette Goes to War" as a member of the French Resistance, Louis Malle’s "A Very Private Affair," and Henri-Georges Clouzot’s "La Verite" in 1960. While she achieved only limited success in this endeavor, Jean-Luc Godard’s "Contempt" (1963) famously exploited and commented on her public reputation. She also ventured into American-made films, including a cameo in "Dear Brigitte" and a lead role alongside Jeanne Moreau in Louis Malle’s English-language "Viva Maria," for which she earned a BAFTA Award nomination for best foreign actress. Later in the 1960s, she starred opposite Sean Connery in the Western "Shalako."

Bardot retired from acting in 1973 after her final two films, Nina Companeez’s "The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot" and the less successful "Ms. Don Juan," another attempt by Vadim to capitalize on her sexuality. Although she never returned to film, she recorded approximately 80 songs, many of which were popular in the 1960s and ’70s, and in 2010 expressed outrage over rumors of an American biopic.

Her post-acting life was marked by continued media attention, fueled by her numerous love affairs, her staunch advocacy for animal rights, and increasingly, her controversial right-wing politics. In 1986, she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for animal protection. Her dedicated efforts in animal welfare were recognized with the French Legion of Honor, which she famously refused, and she was known to protest and even face arrest for the cause. However, she also faced legal repercussions, including fines from French courts for inciting racial hatred due to repeated critical remarks concerning immigration to France and particular statements about Muslims.

Bardot’s personal life was as tumultuous as her public persona, with multiple marriages. After Roger Vadim, she married actor Jacques Charrier, with whom she had a son. Later, she married German playboy Gunter Sachs in the late 1960s, and in 1993, she wed wealthy industrialist Bernard d’Ormale, a notable supporter of the far right in France. Brigitte Bardot is survived by her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, her son from her marriage to Charrier, and two granddaughters.