“And God… Created Woman”: Actress Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91

An icon of French cinema and a symbol of freedom, Brigitte Bardot passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the age of 91 in her residence La Madrague, in Saint-Tropez. Her Foundation confirmed the news with “immense sadness.” A figure in And God… Created Woman and Contempt, she left her mark on the 7th art before dedicating her life to animal welfare, not without sparking numerous controversies. A Dazzling Trajectory in Cinema Born in Paris in 1934, Brigitte Bardot began as a dancer and then a model before transitioning to cinema. At 22, Roger Vadim offered her the role that changed everything: Juliette in And God… Created Woman in 1956. The film caused a scandal but propelled Bardot to international stardom. She went on to star in about fifty films, including Contempt (1963), and established a new image of women: free, sensual, and unbound by conventions. Often compared to Marilyn Monroe, Bardot nevertheless chose to leave the film sets very early. At 39, she ended her career to avoid being forced into an image she no longer wished to embody. A Free… and Controversial Woman Brigitte Bardot always stood by her strong opinions. Her statements on immigration, feminism, and politics earned her several convictions for racial insult. However, she championed her frankness: “Freedom is being yourself, even when it bothers others,” she wrote again in 2025. A disturbing figure for many, an absolute icon for others, she will remain a personality impossible to ignore. Animal Welfare as Her Last Battle After cinema, Bardot dedicated herself entirely to animals. Her Foundation, created in 1986, became one of the pillars of animal protection in France and internationally. In recent years, weakened by health problems, she nevertheless continued to champion this cause. Hospitalized in the autumn of 2025, she had reassured her admirers. She had also expressed her funeral wishes: a simple ceremony in Saint-Tropez, far from the media frenzy. Her funeral is scheduled for January 7. Brigitte Bardot leaves behind a unique legacy: that of a global star who revolutionized cinematic codes, embodied a generation, and chose, until the very end, to remain true to her truth, no matter the storm. The editorial team
With International Press