French icon Brigitte Bardot breathes her last at 91

French cinema legend Brigitte Bardot has passed away at the age of 91.

According to an official statement by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, the veteran actress and model has died, via the French news agency AFP.

"The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot," the statement reads.

The foundation paid tribute to Brigitte, calling her "a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation."

The place and time of Brigitte's death have not been specified by the outlet.

The heartbreaking news came after the reports of Brigitte's "serious illness" and that she had undergone surgery in October 2025.

Brigitte, whose birth name was Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, came into the spotlight after her controversial role in the 1956 film And God Created Woman.

The actress had struggled with mental health throughout her life. Back in 1960 Brigitte attempted suicide at the set of her courtroom drama The Truth.

“I have really been on the verge of suicide several times — it’s a miracle that I am still alive," she told FRANCE magazine in 2010.

The actress parted ways with her acting career in 1973 and started taking part in animal rights activism. Later, she launched her own foundation, Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals in 1986.