Brigitte Bardot died on December 28, 2025. From Cannes to Saint-Tropez, she embodied a figure of glamour and freedom. For many, her name remains associated with a certain image of France from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Brigitte Bardot passed away on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the age of 91 in Saint-Tropez, as announced by her Foundation to AFP: “The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Ms. Brigitte Bardot, a globally recognized actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to the defense of animals and her Foundation.”
The image of the French Riviera remains inseparable from that of Brigitte Bardot. An iconic actress of the 1960s, she found an anchor in the South. Originally from Paris, she fell in love with the French Riviera, built her legend in Cannes, and settled permanently in Saint-Tropez, where she passed away.
Fans of Brigitte Bardot can also pay tribute to her in Nice, at the Espace Lympia, through the exhibition Brigitte, Mylène & Michèle – The Little Darlings of the French Riviera, conceived by journalist and writer Henry-Jean Servat, dedicated to three icons of a France where cinema is entering a modern era: Brigitte Bardot, Mylène Demongeot, and Michèle Mercier.
Political Reactions:
Christian Estrosi:
“With the passing of Brigitte Bardot, France loses today an extraordinary personality, an icon whose image, voice, and style have left a lasting impact on cinema and an entire era. At 91, Brigitte Bardot leaves us, leaving behind a major body of work and a freedom of tone that has spanned generations. For Nice and the French Riviera, this loss resonates particularly. Here, on this land of creation and light that so inspired the 7th art, Brigitte Bardot was much more than a star: she embodied a spirit, an energy, a part of the soul of the Côte d’Azur. Her time at the Victorine Studios, a landmark of our cinematic history, forever ingrains her in the great memory of Nice’s cinema, to which we are deeply attached and proud. But Brigitte Bardot also chose another path. Turning her back to film sets, she devoted her fame and determination to an essential cause: animal protection. Through the Foundation she created in 1986, she pursued this uncompromising fight with consistency and courage that commands respect. Because Nice knows how to honor those who have marked the culture, cinema, and our city: Brigitte Bardot’s name will be given to an emblematic place in our city. To her family, her loved ones, and all those who admired her, I offer my sincerest thoughts. And to “BB”, we say thank you: for the cinema, for the freedom she embodied, for the Côte d’Azur, and for her unwavering commitment to animal rights.”
Eric Ciotti:
“Nice has always known how to welcome free spirits. Brigitte Bardot, a French icon, found an anchor here: a light, a Mediterranean that mirrors her, untamable. Over time, a deep connection was formed between a free woman and a radiant city.”
Charles Ange Ginésy:
“With the passing of Brigitte Bardot, a major chapter of French cinema and the cultural history of the French Riviera turns. A mythical actress, muse, singer, figure of emancipation, and global icon, she left an indelible mark on imaginations beyond screens, leaving a lasting impression on our territory and entire generations. But Brigitte Bardot is also — and perhaps especially — an exceptional commitment. By voluntarily stepping back from the artistic scene at the height of her fame, she made the rare and radical choice to devote her life to the defense of animals, becoming a pioneer and an essential voice for their protection, in France as well as internationally. Her fight, carried out with determination, courage, and sincerity, profoundly contributed to changing society’s view on animal welfare, paving the way for a lasting awareness. Free, passionate, sometimes controversial but always authentic, Brigitte Bardot never deceived. She leaves behind a huge footprint: that of a woman who knew how to turn her fame into engagement, and her revolt into action. From December 20 until April 12, 2026, the Département des Alpes-Maritimes is offering a commemorative exhibition titled Brigitte, Mylène & Michèle – The Little Darlings of the French Riviera, presented at the departmental cultural space Lympia. This exhibition celebrates Brigitte Bardot’s artistic and human legacy, highlights the deep ties that united her to our territory, and recalls the lasting influence she had on generations of creators, film enthusiasts, and visitors from around the world. Conceived as a respectful and inspiring tribute, this event invites everyone to draw from her work and image a source of freedom and creativity. As of this afternoon, a guest book will be made available to the residents of the Alpes-Maritimes to express their affection. She singularly embodied an era, a freedom, and a certain way of life. Today, France loses a legend. Her legacy, however, will remain eternal.”
Juliette Chesnel-Le Roux:
“Defender of animals long before others,
Icon of French cinema,
The first international French star,
This is what we wish to commemorate.
Farewell Madame.”
Bernard Chaix:
“Brigitte Bardot is a smile and a gaze that embodied all the beauty of our beloved Côte d’Azur. She was an icon. A small piece of France has left us today, and a chapter of cinema history turns.”
Julien Picot:
“Christian Estrosi chose to pay tribute to the memory of Brigitte Bardot… a gesture revealing much about the value hierarchy of those delivering such tributes. Brigitte Bardot was not only an icon of cinema from another time: she was also a repeat offender of racist remarks, several times convicted for inciting hatred. Her words against the inhabitants of Réunion and overseas populations were of unparalleled violence, unworthy of our Republic. In Nice, we refuse to make role models out of those who contributed to the trivialization of racism. We instead choose to honor fraternity, not hatred. What our city deserves are not hollow tributes to racist figures, but courageous commitments to the dignity, justice, and equality of all.”
