Famed French actress, singer and generational sex symbol Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91.
Bardot passed away on Sunday at her home in southern France, a rep for her foundation confirming the news to The Associated Press. No cause of death was provided, but Bardot had been hospitalised last month.
In the 1950s, she personified the young, pouty, voluptuous blonde bombshell and broke through worldwide, starring in filmmaker (and husband) Roger Vadim’s feature “And God Created Woman” in 1956 when she was 21.
She played a hedonistic 18-year-old orphan in the film, which received mixed reviews, but it launched Bardot’s iconic ‘sex kitten’ persona that became a quickly copied staple in cinema.
Her prior films suddenly were in high demand, and new films looked forward to with arguably her next most famous being Jean-Luc Godard’s acclaimed “Contempt”. Other notable works were Henri-Georges Clouzot’s “La Verite” and Louis Malle’s “Viva Maria!” along with titles like “The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful,” “The Girl in the Bikini,” “The Night Heaven Fell,” “Babette Goes to War,” and “A Very Private Affair”.
In addition to her film work, she also recorded some 80 songs and was a famed animal rights advocate – her efforts on that front earning her the French Legion of Honor (which she refused). She was also infamous for her political views and drew fines from French courts six times for inciting racial hatred.
Bardot is survived by her son and two granddaughters.
Source: Variety
