French Actress Brigitte Bardot Dies at 91
The Facts
- Brigitte Bardot, the internationally-renowned French actress and singer, died at age 91, according to an announcement from the Brigitte Bardot Foundation on Sunday. The foundation stated that Bardot chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life to animal welfare.
- Born on Sept. 28, 1934, in Paris, Bardot initially trained as a ballet dancer at the National Superior Conservatory of Paris. At age 15, she appeared on the cover of Elle magazine, which launched her modeling career and led to her entry into film.
- Bardot rose to international fame with her role in the 1956 film, "And God Created Woman," directed by her first husband, Roger Vadim. The film made her a global sensation despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.
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The Spin
Narrative A
Bardot defined an era as cinema's original sex kitten, capturing the free-living spirit of the Swinging Sixties and becoming a cultural export as valuable as Roquefort cheese. Her rebellious image and provocative style made her an international icon, even if Hollywood vehicles rarely showcased her genuine acting talent. The fragile star eventually found purpose abandoning showbiz for animal welfare, channeling her fame toward protecting creatures.
Narrative B
Bardot swept away cinema's staid portrayal of women and personified sexual liberation, but was ruthlessly marketed as a sex symbol when she wanted serious acting roles. Her legacy became scarred by repeated convictions for inciting racial hatred, homophobic slurs and telling her son she'd have preferred birthing a dog. The troubled icon spent final years as a semi-recluse fighting race-hate allegations in court.
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