Legendary French figure Brigitte Bardot, revered as a global sex symbol and fierce advocate for animal rights, has died at the age of 91. She burst onto the scene in 'And God Created Woman,' captivating audiences before shifting her focus entirely to animal welfare, which ultimately earned her France’s highest accolades.

Brigitte Bardot, the French actress and singer who went on to become a global sex symbol, has passed away. She was 91. As per the reports, the veteran actress and militant animal rights activist died at her home in Southern France.

No cause of death has been reported.According to The Associated Press, Bruno Jacquelin of her NGO for the protection of animals stated that no arrangements for her funeral or memorial services have been made as of now. He stated that she was admitted to the hospital last month.Brigitte Bardot turned into a global celebrity as a se*ualized teen bride in her 1956 film 'And God Created Woman'. The movie was directed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim.

It also sparked controversy as it showcased scenes of the actress dancing on tables naked. As per the AP report, at the peak of her career, which included around 28 films and three marriages, the actress came to symbolize a nation bursting out of bourgeois respectability. Her tousled, blond hair, voluptuous figure, and pouty irreverence made her one of France’s best-known stars.Reportedly, due to her appealing physique, in 1969, her features were chosen to be the model for “Marianne,” the national emblem of France and the official Gallic seal.

As per the report, her face appeared on statues and postal stamps and on coins as well.She turned into an animal activist later. The actress reportedly travelled to the Arctic to shed light on the slaughtering of baby seals. She also slammed the use of animals in laboratory experiments. Not just that, Bardot was also against sending monkeys into space.Her activism earned her compatriots’ respect, and, in 1985, she was awarded the Legion of Honor, the nation’s highest honor.Later, however, she fell from public grace as her animal protection diatribes took on a decidedly extremist tone and her far-right political views sounded racist as she frequently decried the influx of immigrants into France, especially Muslims.In 2018, at the height of the #MeToo movement, Bardot said in an interview that most actors protesting sexual harassment in the film industry were “hypocritical” and “ridiculous” because many played “the teases” with producers to land parts.She said she had never been a victim of sexual harassment and found it "charming to be told that I was beautiful or that I had a nice little ass."Born as Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot on September 28, 1934, to a wealthy industrialist, she was a shy and secretive child. The actress had studied classical ballet and was discovered by a family friend who put her on the cover of Elle magazine at age 14.In 1952, she married French film producer Roger Vadim, who saw her and wrote 'And God Created Woman'. Her films included 'A Parisian' (1957); 'In Case of Misfortune', in which she starred in 1958 with screen legend Jean Gabin; 'The Truth' (1960); 'Private Life' (1962); 'A Ravishing Idiot' (1964); 'Shalako' (1968); 'Women' (1969); 'The Bear And The Doll' (1970); 'Rum Boulevard' (1971); and 'Don Juan' (1973).Bardot retired to her Riviera villa in St. Tropez at the age of 39 in 1973 after 'The Woman Grabber'.