Brigitte Bardot, the legendary French actress and international sex symbol who captivated the world before dedicating her life to animal rights, has died at the age of 91. Her passing, announced by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, marks the end of an era defined by glamour, controversy, and unwavering conviction. From her groundbreaking cinematic roles to her fierce activism, Bardot’s life embodied a unique blend of French existence and universal brilliance, though her later years were marred by divisive political statements.

Born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot in Paris in 1934, she hailed from a wealthy, traditional Catholic family. Her early life was shaped by ballet training, gaining a place at the prestigious Conservatoire de Paris, which her mother encouraged. By the age of 15, Bardot’s striking beauty caught the attention of the fashion world, leading to her appearance on the cover of Elle magazine, which caused a sensation and redefined the "jeune fille" style. This exposure paved her way into cinema, where at an audition, she met aspiring director Roger Vadim. Infatuated, she married Vadim at 18 in 1952, after a dramatic period during which her parents initially opposed the union. Vadim also sold pictures of their wedding to Paris-Match, marking an early instance of intense public interest.

It was Vadim who launched Bardot into international stardom with his 1956 debut film, "And God Created Woman." In this provocative work, Bardot portrayed an uninhibited teenager in Saint-Tropez, her sensual and carefree persona redefining femininity and challenging conventional societal norms. The film, despite initially struggling in France, caused an uproar in the United States, where Bardot became a sensation, hailed by existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir as an icon of "absolute freedom." This role catapulted her into the front rank of French performers, cementing her image as the archetypal "sex kitten" and making her a Cannes sensation. She quickly became known as "BB," a figure who embodied modernity, youth, and sexual liberation, influencing artists and intellectuals alike, including young John Lennon and Paul McCartney. In 1969, Bardot was chosen as the first real-life model for Marianne, the symbol of the French republic.

Throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, Bardot became a global phenomenon, showcasing remarkable versatility across genres. She earned critical acclaim for her dramatic depth in films like Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Oscar-nominated "The Truth," where she played a complex, emotionally-torn character in a gripping courtroom drama, and Jean-Luc Godard’s masterpiece "Contempt," though she reportedly felt patronized by Godard's approach. Her ability to convey vulnerability shone in romantic dramas such as "Love on a Pillow," also directed by Vadim, and "Two Weeks in September." Bardot also demonstrated her comedic flair in "Viva Maria!" alongside Jeanne Moreau, and playful charm in "The Bear and the Doll." Beyond these, her work in films like Claude Autant-Lara’s crime melodrama "In Case of Emergency" with Jean Gabin highlighted her powerful on-screen chemistry. As a fashion icon, her tousled blonde hair, bold eyeliner, and popularization of the bikini and the "Bardot neckline" set trends worldwide. She even had a parallel music career, famously recording the original version of Serge Gainsbourg’s "Je T’aime … Moi Non Plus," which she later asked him not to release due to potential scandal.

However, the immense pressure of stardom, the relentless media intrusion, and the ruthless marketing of her as a hedonistic sex symbol began to take its toll. Bardot expressed frustration at being unable to be taken seriously as an actress, lamenting, "mostly I have had to undress." She found the madness surrounding her unreal and was never truly prepared for the life of a star. In 1973, at the height of her fame and after appearing in almost 50 films, Bardot made a bold decision to retire from acting at the age of 39. She famously declared, "I gave my beauty and my youth to men. I'm going to give my wisdom and experience to animals."

This marked a significant turning point as she channeled her passion into animal rights advocacy. She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, raising funds by auctioning her jewelry and film memorabilia (3 million francs, about £300,000 at the time). Settling in Saint-Tropez, she campaigned tirelessly against seal hunting, animal testing, the eating of horse meat, dog extermination in Romania, dolphin killing in the Faroe Islands, and cat slaughter in Australia, and became a vegetarian. Her activism extended to global issues, protesting against the Chinese government's treatment of bears and even threatening to apply for Russian citizenship in 2013 over the culling of elephants in France. France’s oldest animal protection association, The Société Protectrice des Animaux, paid tribute to her as an "iconic and passionate figure for the animal cause."

Despite her unwavering commitment to animal welfare, Bardot’s later years were marked by significant controversy. Her outspoken support for animal rights unfortunately evolved into incendiary comments on religious animal slaughter, ethnic minorities, and open support for France’s far-right Front National (now National Rally). She was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred, including for remarks in her 2003 book "A Cry in the Silence," where she criticized immigrants, gay people, modern art, and politicians as destroying French culture, and again in 2008 for comments about the Muslim population "destroying our country by imposing its acts." Her controversial legacy also includes a strained relationship with her son, Nicolas Charrier, who sued her for emotional damage after her autobiography stated she would have preferred to "give birth to a little dog." Bardot, who had four marriages—to Roger Vadim, Jacques Charrier (with whom she had Nicolas), Gunter Sachs, and later to former Le Pen adviser Bernard d'Ormale—spent her final years as a semi-recluse, often fighting these allegations in court.

Brigitte Bardot leaves behind a complex legacy: an undeniable icon of cinematic allure and sexual liberation, a fashion trailblazer, and a passionate pioneer for animal rights. Yet, her later-life controversies serve as a stark reminder of the challenges in reconciling a legendary public image with evolving societal norms and personal political convictions.