The passing of Brigitte Bardot on December 28, 2025, at the age of 91, marked the conclusion of a life that redefined 20th-century culture. The woman known globally as “B.B.” died at her longtime sanctuary, “La Madrague,” a 16th-century historic property in Saint-Tropez where she had resided since 1958. While her death brought a wave of international mourning, her final hours and the circumstances surrounding her passing were characterized by the same quiet intensity and dedication to animal welfare that defined the latter half of her life.
The Final 24 Hours: A Mission Until the End
Even in her final days, Brigitte Bardot remained a militant advocate for those she called the “innocent”. Her final public action occurred just one day before her death, on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Through her foundation’s social media channels, she released what would become her final appeal: an “SOS” for a vulnerable rescue dog.
In a video posted that Saturday, the 91-year-old icon was seen gently petting a young Doberman named Urphé, who suffered from severe generalized arthritis. The foundation’s plea described Urphé as a sweet, people-oriented dog who had known only the kennel and desperately needed to experience life in a home. This final act was a poignant encapsulation of her 50-year commitment to animal rights, proving that she remained focused on her mission even as her own health was in its final decline.
Just days prior to this, Bardot had shared a holiday message with her supporters, featuring a photo of her kissing another rescue dog. The message thanked her teams and donors, wishing them a Merry Christmas and urging them to “take care of yourselves, your loved ones, and your pets”. At the moment of her passing on Sunday morning, reports confirmed that her fourth husband, Bernard d’Ormale, was by her side at their home.
Health Decline and the Cause of Death
While the specific medical cause of Brigitte Bardot’s death has not been officially disclosed by her representatives or the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, her passing followed months of declining health. The timeline of her final year suggests a significant physical struggle:
- October 2025: Bardot was admitted to the Saint-Jean Hospital in Toulon. While initial reports from her office described the stay as a “minor surgical procedure,” it was later revealed she had been hospitalized for three weeks to undergo surgery for a “serious illness“.
- November 2025: Shortly after returning home, she was readmitted to the hospital for approximately 10 days due to complications related to her surgery.
- December 2025: Reports indicated she had been in a state of “worrying” health for some time leading up to her death on the 28th.
Despite these health scares, Bardot remained defiant until the end. In November, she had released a statement through her foundation to deny rumors of her death that had begun circulating on social media, tweeting that she had “no intention of bowing out”.
Earlier in her life, Bardot had faced other significant health challenges, including a breast cancer diagnosis in 1984. At that time, she famously refused chemotherapy, opting only for radiation therapy, and successfully recovered by 1986. She also suffered from amblyopia as a child, which left her with decreased vision in her left eye.
Tributes and a Nation in Mourning
The news of her death triggered an immediate and profound reaction from the highest levels of the French government and the international community. French President Emmanuel Macron led the tributes, describing her as a “legend of the century“. He stated that Bardot “embodied a life of freedom” and that her face, which once served as the model for the national symbol Marianne, was inseparable from the identity of France.
Other notable reactions included:
- Marine Le Pen: The far-right leader, whom Bardot had long supported, called her “incredibly French: free, untamable, whole”.
- Ingrid Newkirk (PETA Founder): Described Bardot as an “angel for animals” who was willing to go to court and use her own fortune to protect the voiceless.
- The Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA): Praised her as an “iconic and passionate figure” who had achieved major advances for animal protection since the 1970s.
- The Town of Saint-Tropez: The municipality stated that she was its “most radiant ambassador” and had helped the town “shine across the world”.
Media outlets across the French Riviera and the rest of the country cleared their weekend schedules to provide special coverage of her life, focusing on her transition from a “cultural earthquake” in cinema to a militant activist.
The Complicated Legacy of “B.B.”
Even in death, Bardot remained a polarizing figure. Tributes were often balanced with acknowledgments of her six legal convictions for inciting racial and religious hatred. Her outspoken criticism of Islam, immigration, and modern social movements like #MeToo had alienated younger generations and divided public opinion in her later years.
Her family life was also marked by public strife. Her only son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, had sued her in the late 1990s for “hurtful remarks” made in her autobiography, where she compared her pregnancy to a “tumor”. Although Bardot claimed in 2018 that they had established a regular, if distant, relationship, the shadow of their estrangement remained a part of her narrative until the end. He, along with her husband Bernard d’Ormale, survives her.
Final Wishes and Funeral Arrangements
In the immediate aftermath of her death, the Brigitte Bardot Foundation stated that no formal plans for public memorial services had been made. This lack of ceremony aligns with Bardot’s own stated wishes for her death.
In her final book, Mon BBcedaire, published just weeks before her passing, she expressed a desire to avoid a “crowd of idiots” at her funeral. She requested a simple burial in the garden of her home, La Madrague, marked only by a plain wooden cross. This was the same modest treatment she had given to the many animals she had buried on her property over the decades. She often said she felt more at home among animals than humans, famously remarking, “I gave my youth and beauty to men, I give my wisdom and experience to animals”.
Analogy for Understanding
Brigitte Bardot’s final departure was like the extinguishing of a hearth that had burned for nearly a century. In its early years, it provided the heat of a revolution, warming a society into sexual liberation; in its later years, it became a fierce, protective fire for the natural world, though its smoke often carried the sharp, acrid scent of controversy. At the very end, the flame did not flicker out in the spotlight of Hollywood, but in the quiet, private woods of her own sanctuary, exactly where she had chosen to place her heart fifty years prior.
FAQs
When did Brigitte Bardot die?
Brigitte Bardot passed away on December 28, 2025, at the age of 91.
Where did Brigitte Bardot die?
She died at her longtime home and animal sanctuary, La Madrague, in Saint-Tropez.
What did Brigitte Bardot do in her final 24 hours?
Her last public act was an SOS appeal for a rescue dog, reflecting her lifelong commitment to animal welfare.
What was the cause of Brigitte Bardot’s death?
The exact medical cause was not officially disclosed, but she had been in declining health for months.
Who was with Brigitte Bardot when she died?
Her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, was by her side at the time of her passing.
What were Brigitte Bardot’s final wishes for her funeral?
She requested a simple, private burial at La Madrague with no public ceremony.
Will there be a public memorial service?
No public memorial was planned, in accordance with her personal wishes.
How is Brigitte Bardot remembered today?
She is remembered as a cultural icon of cinema and a fierce, lifelong advocate for animal rights.
Anne Kellogg is the creative mind behind NamesPerl, where she shares her passion for names. With 4 years of experience in crafting unique and catchy names, Anne helps readers discover the perfect words to express identity, creativity, and meaning.