Read on bbc.comBrigitte Bardot: The Complex Legacy of a French Cinema Icon
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress who became a global symbol of sexual liberation in the 1950s, has died at age 91. Known as "BB" in her homeland, Bardot starred in nearly 50 films before retiring at 39 to dedicate her life to animal welfare. While French President Emmanuel Macron hailed her as "a legend of the century," Bardot's later years were marked by controversy over homophobic and racist remarks that damaged her reputation. This article examines her cinematic legacy, animal rights activism, and the complex duality of her public life.
The death of Brigitte Bardot at age 91 marks the passing of one of France's most iconic and contradictory cultural figures. As French President Emmanuel Macron declared, the nation mourns "a legend of the century"—an actress who revolutionized cinema, became a global fashion icon, and then transformed into a passionate animal rights activist. Yet this same woman, celebrated for embodying "absolute freedom" by philosopher Simone de Beauvoir, spent her later years embroiled in controversies over inflammatory remarks about minorities. Bardot's life presents a complex narrative of liberation and limitation, artistic achievement and personal controversy that continues to spark debate about how we remember cultural icons.
Cinematic Revolution and Sexual Liberation
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born in Paris in 1934 to a wealthy family who initially envisioned a ballet career for their daughter. Her path changed dramatically when she appeared on the cover of Elle magazine as a teenager, launching a modeling career that quickly transitioned to cinema. Discovered in her teens, Bardot swiftly became a national sensation before achieving global fame. Her breakthrough came with the 1956 film And God Created Woman, directed by her then-husband Roger Vadim. In this groundbreaking role, Bardot played a sexually liberated woman whose behavior scandalized American audiences to the point that the film was banned in several U.S. states. French existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir hailed Bardot as an icon of "absolute freedom," recognizing how her on-screen persona challenged conservative social norms of the 1950s.
From Global Icon to Animal Rights Activist
At the height of her fame in 1973, Bardot made the surprising announcement that she would retire from acting at age 39. As she famously declared, "I gave my youth and beauty to men, I give my wisdom and experience to animals." This marked a profound transformation in her public identity. In 1986, she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, which has since worked extensively to protect both wild and domestic animals. The foundation remembered her as "a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare." Bardot became a vegetarian and remained fiercely committed to animal causes, even threatening in 2013 to apply for Russian citizenship in protest against plans to euthanize two sick elephants in a French zoo. France's oldest animal protection association, The Société Protectrice des Animaux, paid tribute to her as an "iconic and passionate figure for the animal cause."
The Controversial Later Years
Despite her cinematic achievements and animal welfare work, Bardot's legacy became increasingly complicated by a series of inflammatory statements beginning in the late 1990s. She was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred after making derogatory comments about Muslims online and in interviews. In 2008, she received a €15,000 fine after complaining on her website that Muslims were "destroying our country by imposing their ways." Her 2003 book, A Cry in the Silence, further damaged her reputation with arguments that gay people, modern art, politicians, and immigrants were destroying French culture. In 2018, Bardot dismissed actresses participating in the #MeToo movement as "hypocritical, ridiculous, uninteresting," claiming in an interview with Paris Match that "there are many actresses who flirt with producers in order to get a role." These remarks created a stark contrast with her earlier image as a symbol of liberation.
Personal Life and Political Associations
Bardot's personal life reflected the complexities of her public persona. She was married four times and had one son, Nicolas, with French actor and film producer Jacques Charrier. Their relationship became strained when Nicolas later sued his mother for emotional damage after she wrote in an autobiography that she would have preferred to "give birth to a little dog." Politically, Bardot's associations raised eyebrows, particularly her 1992 marriage to Bernard d'Ormale, a former adviser to far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen. French far-right politician Marine Le Pen (Jean-Marie's daughter) praised Bardot after her death as "an exceptional woman, through her talent, her courage, her frankness, her beauty." These political connections further complicated how different segments of French society viewed her legacy.
Enduring Cultural Impact
Beyond the controversies, Bardot's cultural influence remains undeniable. As a fashion icon, her signature blonde tousled hair and bold eyeliner set beauty trends worldwide. After she wore an off-the-shoulder dress at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953, similar styles became known as the "Bardot neckline." Cinematically, she appeared in nearly 50 films, including critically acclaimed works like The Truth, Contempt (a Jean-Luc Godard masterpiece), and Viva Maria! where she showcased comedic flair alongside Jeanne Moreau. Less celebrated films like Love on a Pillow, Two Weeks in September, and The Bear and the Doll demonstrated her versatility across genres. Despite being "ruthlessly marketed as a hedonistic sex symbol," as historical accounts note, Bardot's filmography reveals an actress capable of substantial dramatic depth.
A Divided Legacy
Brigitte Bardot's death at 91 prompts reflection on how societies remember complex cultural figures. President Macron's tribute emphasizing how she "embodied a life of freedom" contrasts with the reality of her later controversial statements. The duality of her life—sexual liberation icon versus critic of social movements, celebrated actress versus fined provocateur, animal rights champion versus political lightning rod—creates a challenging legacy to assess. As the BBC's coverage notes, Bardot "revolutionised 1950s French cinema and became a symbol of sexual liberation" while later having her "reputation damaged after she made homophobic slurs and was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred." This tension between artistic contribution and personal controversy ensures that Bardot will be remembered not simply as an icon, but as a profoundly human figure whose life reflected both the possibilities and limitations of the freedom she championed.
