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Brigitte Bardot, Screen Siren and Animal Advocate, Dies at 91
Saint Tropez bids farewell to Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress and devoted animal rights activist, who passed away at her residence on December 28 at the age of 91. Her foundation confirmed her death, stating, “The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation.”
Bardot rose to international stardom through her captivating performances in films like And God Created Woman, The Truth, and Viva Maria!, the latter earning her a BAFTA nomination. Yet, in a striking pivot from the silver screen, she became a fierce advocate for animal welfare, famously declaring in 1973, “I gave my youth and beauty to men; I give my wisdom and experience to animals.”
Throughout her lifetime, Bardot amassed a substantial fortune, estimated between $65 million and $100 million. This wealth stemmed from her illustrious film career, modeling endeavors, and shrewd property investments.
In the 1960s, she was among the world’s highest-paid actresses, notably commanding $350,000 for *Viva Maria! *, a figure equivalent to approximately $3.66 million today.
Her 1996 autobiography, Initials B.B., reportedly generated around $4 million in earnings.
Her primary residence, La Madrague in Saint Tropez, acquired in 1958, is valued at no less than $23 million. She also owned Le Castelet, a medieval hillside property near Cannes, which she listed for sale in 2020 for approximately $6.5 million.
However, Bardot’s later years were marked by controversy and legal battles. Despite her considerable wealth, portions of it were diminished by fines stemming from multiple far-right controversies. Frequently labeled a “Neo-Nazi,” Bardot faced legal difficulties for promoting racial hatred.
From the 1990s onward, the And God Created Woman star was found guilty five times in French courts for “inciting racial hatred.” These verdicts were a consequence of her remarks concerning immigration, Islam, and the ceremonial slaughter of animals by Muslims in France. She also expressed xenophobic and Islamophobic sentiments in her book Un cri dans le silence (A Cry in the Silence).
These convictions resulted in six financial penalties, with her steepest coming in 2020 when she was ordered to pay €20,000 ($23,500) after describing the residents of Réunion island as “degenerate savages” with “savage genes.” In total, Bardot paid between €50,000 and €55,000 ($59,000 to $65,000) in penalties for racist offenses.
Beyond the courtroom, Bardot was an outspoken supporter of Marine Le Pen and the National Front, a far-right French political organization. Furthermore, her third husband, Bernard d’Ormale, previously served as an advisor to the party’s founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen.