Brigitte Bardot’s final rites took place on Wednesday, featuring a private ceremony followed by a public tribute in Saint-Tropez, where she resided for over 50 years post her retirement from the film industry. The renowned animal rights advocate and conservative figure passed away at 91 on December 28 at her residence in southern France after battling cancer. Her spouse, Bernard d’Ormale, disclosed that Bardot remained dedicated to animal welfare until her last moments, despite undergoing two surgeries.
During the funeral procession, locals and admirers paid their respects to Bardot, once a global icon and symbol of allure in the 1960s, as her casket traversed the town’s streets. The service commenced at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Catholic Church, where attendees included her husband, son, grandchildren, and invitees from her family and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for animal protection. Mourners, including close friend Max Guazzini, expressed deep sorrow over her passing.
Hundreds congregated in Saint-Tropez to witness the memorial via large screens set up at the harbor and plazas. Bardot, who considered Saint-Tropez her sanctuary away from the limelight, was interred discreetly in a cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The burial ground also commemorates various cultural luminaries, such as filmmaker Roger Vadim, Bardot’s ex-husband, known for directing her breakout film “And God Created Woman.”
Having retired from acting in 1973 at 39 after a prolific career spanning over two dozen films, Bardot spent her later years at her coastal abode, La Madrague. While she stepped away from the entertainment industry, she remained a prominent public figure due to her staunch advocacy for animal rights and controversial ties to far-right ideologies. Despite facing criticism for her stance against the seal hunt in Newfoundland and legal issues related to inciting racial hatred, Bardot defended her actions as driven by her distress over the slow progress in certain societal matters.