French Movie icon Brigitte Bardot has sadly breathed her last on December 28 at age 91 at her home in southern France, according to the Brigitte Bardot Foundation.
The foundation confirmed her passing to the Associated Press. Her death followed what French outlets described as a lengthy and serious health battle. For generations, Bardot stood as a symbol of freedom and rebellion.
In her final years, however, the French film icon faced a series of escalating health struggles that quietly reshaped her life away from the spotlight.
Brigitte Bardotâs Final Health Struggles
Bardot faced a series of medical setbacks in the years leading up to her death. Here’s a break up of her health issues and timeline.
October 2025: Bardot was hospitalized and underwent surgery âas part of the treatment for a serious illness,â according to French publication Nice Matin.
Late October 2025: She returned to her home in Saint-Tropez to recover. A spokesperson later told the Daily Mail that Bardot was doing âfine.â
Reuters confirmed that Bardot was recovering after hospital stay.
November 2025: Bardot was hospitalized again at Saint Jean Hospital in Toulon for treatment of an undisclosed condition. French media reported the hospitalization was linked to the same illness she had been battling earlier in the fall.
Weeks earlier: Bardot publicly shut down false online claims that she had died after an unverified report spread on social media. She issued a statement confirming she was alive and recovering at home.
A Life Marked by Intense Medical Battles
Health concerns had followed Bardot for decades. She previously battled breast cancer for two years beginning in 1984, as reported by the US Sun. In July 2023, she experienced a respiratory episode during an intense heat wave and received oxygen treatment at her home in Saint-Tropez.
Her husband told local reporters at the time that she was closely monitored until her condition stabilized.
Ahead of her 90th birthday, Bardot also told La Parisienne that she was struggling with mobility and that walking was increasingly difficult.
Despite recurring health challenges, Bardot continued recovering at home between hospital stays, relying on regular medical supervision and the support of those closest to her.
A Screen Icon Who Redefined an Era
Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in cinematic history. Her provocative performances in films such as âAnd God Created Womanâ and âThe Girl in the Bikiniâ helped define postwar French cinema and reshaped how women were portrayed on screen.
She became a global symbol of the sexual revolution, celebrated for her fearless approach to roles that challenged cultural norms. Bardot retired from acting at a young age but remained a lasting cultural force long after leaving the screen.
In later years, she devoted her life to animal rights advocacy through the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, shifting her public identity from that of a film star to an activist.
Though her final years were marked by illness, Bardotâs influence never faded. She remained a towering figure in global pop culture, admired for both her cinematic impact and her unwavering convictions.
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