French actor and singer Brigitte Bardot, a screen siren of the 1950s and 1960s who in later life became a prominent animal rights campaigner, has died at the age of 91.

Bardot had rarely been seen in public in recent months but was hospitalised in October and, in November, released a statement denying rumours that she had died.

Announcing her death, her foundation did not say when or where she died.

"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," it said in a statement sent to AFP, without specifying the time or place of death.

Tributes were immediately paid to the star who was became known as "BB" in her home country.

French President Emmanuel Macron called Bardot a "legend" of the 20th century.

"With her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials (BB), her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, and her face that became Marianne, Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom," he wrote on X, referring to the female symbol of the French republic in art.

"We mourn a legend of the century."

Animal rights campaigner

Born on September 28, 1934 in Paris, Bardot was raised in a well-off traditional Catholic household. 

Married four times, she had one child, Nicolas with her second husband, actor Jacques Charrier.

Bardot became a global star after appearing in And God Created Woman in 1956, and went on to appear in about 50 more movies before giving up acting.

She retired from film to settle permanently near the Riviera resort of St Tropez, where she devoted herself to fighting for animals.

Brigitte Bardot was an outspoken animal rights activist. (Reuters: Romania Bardot)

Her calling apparently came when she encountered a goat on the set of her final film, The Edifying and Joyous Story of Colinot.

To save it from being killed, she bought the animal and kept it in her hotel room.

In 2015, Bardot condemned Australia's then-environment minister Greg Hunt's plan to cull 2 million feral cats to stop them harming native animals.

Bardot argued in an open letter to Mr Hunt that the money set aside to destroy the animals would be better spent on setting up a large-scale sterilisation campaign.

In a statement after news of her death broke, the French Animal Welfare Society (SPA) said 

"Her unwavering commitment helped change attitudes and achieve major advances in animal protection … Thank you, B.B., for all that you have accomplished."

Star convicted for hate speech

Unlike other beloved French New Wave stars, Bardot was a divisive figure who alienated many fans with her political views.

She was convicted five times for hate speech, mostly about Muslims, but also the inhabitants of the French island of Reunion whom she described as "savages."

A supporter of far-right politician Marine Le Pen, Bardot declared herself "against the Islamisation of France" in a 2003 book, citing "our ancestors, our grandfathers, our fathers have for centuries given their lives to push out successive invaders."

Jordan Bardella, the head of Le Pen's far-right National Rally party, was among the first to pay hommage.

"Today the French people have lost the Marianne they so loved, whose beauty astonished the world," he wrote on X.

AFP