French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91 following a lengthy health battle. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announced her death on 28 December, stating that she passed away at her home in southern France.
Bardot had been in poor health for some time. She underwent surgery in October as part of treatment for a serious illness, and was hospitalised again in November for an unknown condition. The star had also battled breast cancer in the 1980s and faced repeated false death rumours in recent years.
Born in Paris in 1934, Bardot rose to fame in the 1950s with films such as And God Created Woman, becoming a symbol of the sexual revolution. She appeared in 47 films and recorded over 50 songs before retiring from acting in 1973 at the age of 39.
After retiring, Bardot dedicated herself to animal welfare, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986. She campaigned against bullfighting, seal hunting, and other animal cruelty issues. She is survived by her fourth husband, Bernard d'Ormale, and her son Nicolas-Jacques Charrier.
