Brigitte Bardot, a central figure in mid-20th-century French cinema, died on December 28, 2025, at the age of 91, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation confirmed in an official statement. The news was reported by media outlets in Europe, the United States, and Latin America, which described the end of the life of an artist whose career was intense, transformative, and, in his later years, controversial. The actress, whose full name was Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, achieved international fame in 1956 with the film *And God Created Woman*, directed by Roger Vadim. That performance projected her image beyond France and redefined the boundaries of European cinema, solidifying her as a symbol of female liberation and sensual appeal in a cultural context that was still debating the limits of erotic representation on screen. Bardot acted in approximately 47 films, worked with influential directors of the French New Wave, and explored music with recordings that reached a wide audience. Her presence changed the perception of women in the film industry and contributed to expanding the international reach of French culture in the postwar period. After retiring from film in 1973, Bardot dedicated her life to animal rights. She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, spearheading campaigns against seal hunting, mistreatment in slaughterhouses and laboratories, and promoting animal welfare policies. Her commitment to this cause made her a global icon for wildlife protection groups and civil organizations. Bardot's reputation faced significant strain in recent years. Her stance on immigration, Islam, and other social issues led to several convictions in France for incitement to hatred, a legacy that has sparked intense debate between defenders of free speech and critics of her public rhetoric. Bardot's death was announced without specifying a specific cause, although it is known that she had been experiencing health problems and was recently hospitalized following surgery. She died in the south of France.in the city of Toulon, where she had lived for decades.

The international reaction was immediate. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron,called Bardot a “legend” whose life and career represented cultural rhythms of freedom and audacity, highlighting the profound mark she left on the history of cinema and French cultural identity.

Several actors, activists, and animal rights organizations also expressed solidarity with her family and the team at her foundation, emphasizing that her work in defense of animals will continue as part of her legacy.

Brigitte Bardot belongs to a generation of artists who converged with profound social and aesthetic changes. His biography encompasses cinematic successes, cultural rebellions, social commitments, and public debates that continue to generate analysis and discussion in artistic, political, and academic circles.