French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation announced in a statement.
The announcement states that Bardot was a world-famous actress and singer who decided to abandon her successful artistic career to dedicate her life and energy to animal protection and the work of the foundation she founded.
The statement does not provide details on the time or place of her death.
Brigitte Bardot remains a symbolic figure of French cinema and animal rights activism.
Career
She was immediately noticed by an associate of director Marc Allégret , the young assistant to director Roger Vadim, who introduced her to the world of cinema, directing her to René Simon for acting lessons.
It was the beginning of a romantic relationship, which would soon turn into a successful artistic partnership.
Her film debut was in 1952, with " Le trou normand" by Jean Boyer , the same year in which she was able to marry Vadim.
In a short time, the actress gained some fame in France and abroad, participating in a large number of films, initially as a supporting actress, then in leading roles: “Manina donna senza veil” (1952) by Willy Rozier, “The Law of Love” (1953) by Anatole Litvak, “The Betrayer” (1954) by Mario Bonnard, “The Son of Caroline Cherie” (1955) by Jean-Devaivre, “The Crazy Girls” (1955) by Marc Allégret, “ A Doctor at Sea” (1955) by Ralph Thomas, and “ The Great Maneuvers” (1955) by René Clair .