The iconic French actress Brigitte Bardot, a symbol of 20th-century cinema, died this Sunday at the age of 91, according to the Fondation Brigitte Bardot she founded. She left acting at the peak of her fame to devote herself to animal rights activism. Her legacy includes revolutionary films and a life marked by freedom and controversies.
Brigitte Bardot, born in Paris in 1934 to an affluent family, initially dreamed of ballet and entered the Conservatory despite her parents' opposition. Her entry into cinema was almost accidental, through photo sessions and casting calls, but her impact was immediate. The turning point came with the film '...And God Created Woman' (1956), directed by Roger Vadim, her first husband, which propelled her to stardom as a sex symbol and broke the moral codes of the era, leading to censorship in several countries.
In the following years, Bardot became a global phenomenon, transcending cinema with her sensual and free image. She faced media pressures that affected her personal life, including suicide attempts. In 1973, at 38, she left acting to found the Fondation Brigitte Bardot and devote herself to animal protection. 'I gave my youth to men; now I give the best of myself to animals,' she declared in a famous quote.
She had four marriages: to Vadim at 18, Jacques Charrier (with whom she had her son Nicolas, whose custody she lost), the millionaire Gunter Sachs, and from 1992, Bernard d’Ormale. In her later decades, she lived secluded but sparked controversies with political statements that led to judicial convictions.
Five essential films highlight her career: 'And God Created Woman' (1956), which defined her; 'Come Dance with Me' (1959), for its aesthetic influence; 'The Truth' (1960), a dramatic role; 'Contempt' (1963), by Jean-Luc Godard; and 'Viva Maria!' (1965), with Jeanne Moreau. Her influence endures in cinema, the body, and freedom.
