Brigitte Bardot would have celebrated her 92nd birthday on September 28, marking the first birthday since the legendary French actress died late last year. Born in Paris in 1934, Bardot became one of the most recognizable faces of the 20th century before walking away from Hollywood fame to dedicate her life to protecting animals. She died on December 28, 2025, at her beloved home, La Madrague, in Saint-Tropez. She was 91.
Her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, later revealed that cancer had claimed her life. According to Newsweek, Bardot underwent two operations and suffered severe back pain during her final months. She and d’Ormale married in 1992 and spent more than three decades together. Her death prompted tributes from around the world, including French President Emmanuel Macron, who remembered her as a defining cultural figure.
Brigitte Bardot Walked Away From Hollywood At Just 39
Bardot’s rise to international stardom began with 1956’s And God Created Woman, directed by her first husband, Roger Vadim. Her performance transformed the young actress into an international sensation and a symbol of French glamour. She went on to star in The Truth (1960), Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt (1963), and Viva Maria! (1965), establishing herself as one of European cinema’s most famous leading ladies. But the constant attention and relentless scrutiny of her private life took a toll.
In 1973, at just 39 years old, Bardot made the extraordinary decision to retire from acting permanently. Unlike many stars who eventually return for one last performance, she never appeared in another film. Instead, she withdrew to Saint-Tropez, where her seaside home became a refuge from the celebrity world she had left behind. She devoted her remaining decades to animal welfare, establishing the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986 and campaigning against animal cruelty, fur production, and seal hunting.
Saint-Tropez Remembers Brigitte Bardot On Her First Birthday In Heaven
Bardot’s adopted hometown has continued honoring her legacy since her death. In July 2026, Saint-Tropez unveiled a special tribute featuring photographs of the actress displayed on the town’s famous red lighthouse. The installation was part of the annual Saint-Tropez Couleur Bleu celebration, which also included a screening of the documentary Brigitte Bardot: Le Serment Fait Aux Animaux, exploring her commitment to animal protection. The tribute followed the town’s elaborate celebrations for her 90th birthday in 2024.
Bardot’s legacy remains complicated. Her contributions to cinema and animal welfare earned international recognition, while her controversial political statements and multiple convictions for inciting racial hatred drew widespread criticism. Nevertheless, her influence on French popular culture remains undeniable. As Saint-Tropez marked what would have been her 92nd birthday, the seaside town she called home for decades continued celebrating the actress who helped put it on the international map. Although Bardot left the screen more than 50 years ago, her films and the animal welfare foundation bearing her name remain part of her legacy.
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