The world has lost one of its most enduring cultural icons. Brigitte Bardot, the legendary French actress who redefined global stardom in the 1950s before walking away from the limelight to become a fierce protector of animals, has passed away at the age of 91.
Today, the initials “B.B.” carry a heavy weight of nostalgia and grief. Brigitte Bardot, the woman who transformed from a Parisian model into the world’s most recognizable s*x symbol and later into a militant advocate for the voiceless, passed away. She was 91. Her passing follows a difficult few months; a prolonged hospitalization in October and a subsequent return to the hospital in November. Her foundation released a poignant statement describing her as an “exceptional woman who gave up everything for a world more respectful of animals.”
A Legacy in Five Iconic Roles
Brigitte Bardot appeared in nearly 50 films during her brief but explosive 21-year acting career.
1. Juliette Hardy in And God Created Woman (1956)
This is the film that birthed the “B.B.” myth. Directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim, Bardot’s performance as a free-spirited, barefooted orphan in Saint-Tropez scandalized audiences and broke box office records worldwide. It didn’t just make her a star; it signaled a shift in the way the world viewed female sensuality.
2. Camille Javal in Contempt (Le Mépris) (1963)
Considered by many critics to be her finest work, Bardot starred in this Jean-Luc Godard masterpiece as the disillusioned wife of a screenwriter. Beneath her iconic blonde beehive and heavy eyeliner, Bardot delivered a vulnerable, haunting performance that proved she was a dramatic force to be reckoned with in the French New Wave movement.
3. Maria I in Viva Maria! (1965)
Teaming up with fellow legend Jeanne Moreau, Bardot displayed her comedic chops and adventurous spirit in this Louis Malle Western. Playing a revolutionary singer in turn-of-the-century Central America, the film showcased a more rebellious, action-oriented side of Bardot that fans absolutely loved.
4. Dominique Marceau in The Truth (La Vérité) (1960)
Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot, this courtroom drama gave Bardot her most emotionally demanding role. As a young woman on trial for the murder of her lover, she stripped away the “s*x symbol” veneer to reveal a raw, tragic depth that earned her several prestigious acting awards in Europe.
5. Babette in Babette Goes to War (1959)
Proving she could handle slapstick and satire, Bardot played a naive French girl who joins the Resistance during WWII. The film was a massive success and highlighted her immense charm and comedic timing, proving she could carry a blockbuster through wit alone.
A Life of Second Acts
In 1973, at the age of 39 and the height of her fame, Bardot shocked the world by retiring from acting forever. She famously stated, “I gave my beauty and my youth to men. I am now giving my wisdom and my experience—the best of me—to animals.” She spent the next five decades as the head of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, successfully lobbying for bans on seal hunting and improving conditions for livestock across Europe.
As we say goodbye to the “Original It Girl,” we remember a woman who was never afraid to be exactly who she was.