Brigitte Bardot’s final farewell took place on Wednesday, featuring a private ceremony followed by a public tribute in Saint-Tropez, where she resided for over 50 years after retiring from her illustrious acting career. The renowned animal rights advocate and far-right proponent passed away on December 28 at 91, succumbing to cancer after undergoing two surgeries, according to her husband, Bernard d’Ormale.
During the funeral procession in Saint-Tropez, residents and fans paid their respects to Bardot, once a global icon and prominent figure of 1960s cinema. The commemoration commenced with a rendition of Maria Callas’ “Ave Maria” at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Catholic Church, attended by Bardot’s family, close associates, and members of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation dedicated to animal welfare.
Max Guazzini, a friend and the foundation’s secretary general, expressed profound sorrow and grief while addressing attendees. Hundreds gathered in the town to witness the farewell on large screens at the port and nearby squares. Bardot, who had sought solace in Saint-Tropez away from her celebrity status, was laid to rest discreetly overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
The cemetery, also the burial site of notable cultural figures such as filmmaker Roger Vadim, Bardot’s former spouse and director of her breakout film “And God Created Woman,” is where she found her final repose. Bardot relocated to her coastal residence, La Madrague, years ago, retiring from acting in 1973 after a prolific career spanning over 25 films.
Despite her withdrawal from the film industry, Bardot remained a prominent and controversial public figure due to her extensive involvement in animal rights activism and connections to far-right ideologies. Her stance against the seal hunt in Newfoundland faced backlash for disregarding Indigenous traditions, and she faced convictions and fines in France for inciting racial hatred linked to her opposition to traditional Muslim animal slaughtering practices.
In reflecting on her legal issues and activism, Bardot acknowledged her occasional emotional outbursts but underscored her distress over what she perceived as slow progress in critical matters.
