Ask Onix
Brigitte Bardot, symbol of sexual liberation, passes away
French actress Brigitte Bardot, who redefined women's roles in 1950s cinema and later became a controversial animal welfare advocate, has died at the age of 91. Once celebrated as a global sex symbol, Bardot's legacy was later overshadowed by legal troubles over racial hatred and strained family relationships.
Early life and rise to fame
Born Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot on September 28, 1934, in Paris, she grew up in an affluent, strict Catholic household. Her parents enforced rigid discipline, including corporal punishment for childhood missteps. During World War II, Bardot found solace in ballet, earning praise as an exceptional student at the Paris Conservatoire. By 15, she felt stifled by her upbringing and sought escape through modeling.
A family friend arranged for her to appear on the cover of Elle magazine, where her natural, unpolished style-long hair, athletic physique, and youthful outfits-challenged conventional fashion norms. The photographs caught the attention of director Marc Allégret, whose assistant, Roger Vadim, became her mentor and later her husband.
Breakthrough and global stardom
Vadim shaped Bardot's early career, securing her minor film roles and promoting her image. Her fame skyrocketed in 1956 with Vadim's And God Created Woman, where her uninhibited portrayal of female desire shocked audiences. The film flopped in France but caused a sensation in the U.S., where critics either hailed her as a feminist icon or condemned her as immoral. Simone de Beauvoir praised her as a symbol of "absolute freedom," while American conservatives campaigned to ban the movie.
Bardot's personal life mirrored her on-screen persona. After divorcing Vadim, she married actor Jacques Charrier, with whom she had a son, Nicolas. She later admitted to resenting pregnancy, even attempting self-harm to terminate it. The marriage ended in divorce, and Bardot rarely saw Nicolas for decades. In 1976, he sued her for emotional distress after she wrote in her autobiography that she would have preferred to "give birth to a little dog."
Career frustrations and activism
Despite becoming France's highest-paid actress, Bardot grew disillusioned with her roles, which often reduced her to a sex symbol. "I have not had very much chance to act," she lamented. "Mostly I have had to undress." She sought serious projects, earning acclaim in Jean-Luc Godard's Contempt (1963), but her Hollywood ventures yielded mixed results.
In 1973, at the height of her fame, Bardot retired from acting to focus on animal rights. "I gave my beauty and my youth to men," she declared. "I'm going to give my wisdom and experience to animals." She auctioned jewelry and memorabilia to fund the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which campaigned against seal hunting, horse meat consumption, and animal cruelty. Her efforts included sterilizing stray dogs in Romania and protesting bear farming in China.
Controversies and legal battles
Bardot's later years were marred by repeated convictions for inciting racial hatred. In 1999, she wrote that France was "invaded by an overpopulation of foreigners, especially Muslims," resulting in a hefty fine. She also faced backlash for criticizing interracial marriages and making derogatory remarks about gay men, whom she described as "jiggling their bottoms" and using "castrato voices."
"My homeland is invaded by an overpopulation of foreigners, especially Muslims."
Brigitte Bardot, 1999 letter
Prosecutors grew weary of her repeated offenses, with one stating in 2008 that he was "tired" of charging her. Despite her activism, Bardot's political views alienated many, including former allies.
Legacy and final years
In the 1960s, Bardot was chosen as the face of Marianne, the national symbol of French liberty. Yet her later years were spent in semi-seclusion, battling legal troubles and public scrutiny. She is survived by her fourth husband, Bernard d'Ormale, a former adviser to far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Bardot's life reflected the contradictions of her era: a trailblazer for women's autonomy who later espoused divisive views. While her animal rights work earned admiration, her legacy remains complex-a mix of liberation, controversy, and enduring cultural impact.
