Brigitte Bardot: Global Icon and Relentless Defender of Animals

Brigitte Bardot made one of the most consequential exits in modern celebrity history. At the height of her fame, she walked away from the spotlight entirely—not to reinvent herself, but to devote her life to animals.

Once a defining symbol of postwar cinema, Bardot retired from film in 1973, saying public attention had suffocated her and that she found peace only with animals and nature. What followed was not symbolic advocacy, but the construction of lasting infrastructure.

In 1986, Bardot founded the Fondation Brigitte Bardot, financing its launch by auctioning her personal possessions. The foundation later received official recognition as a public utility in France, granting it legal permanence and oversight. From there, it grew into a national and international force—supporting sanctuaries, funding large-scale spay and neuter campaigns, providing emergency veterinary care, and pursuing legal action against cruelty. Bardot ultimately donated major personal assets, including her Saint-Tropez home, to secure the foundation’s future.

She also used her fame strategically. In 1977, images of Bardot on the Canadian ice floes beside harp seal pups helped turn the commercial seal hunt into an international controversy. Over decades, she supported campaigns against fur trapping, cosmetic testing on animals, bullfighting, foie gras production, and circus exploitation, while funding sanctuaries for animals discarded by entertainment and industry.

Bardot’s legacy is complicated. Beginning in the 1990s, she was convicted multiple times in French courts for inciting racial hatred—convictions that cannot be ignored or minimized. These harms coexist with the measurable good her foundation achieved for animals, and any honest assessment must hold both truths.

What endures is the choice she made—and sustained. Brigitte Bardot walked away from perpetual applause and spent decades fighting for animals who had no audience at all. She chose struggle over celebration, and she stayed.

Take Action like Bardot

Visit OAA’s Action Alerts page to see current opportunities to advocate for animals. New alerts are added throughout the year as legislation is introduced or reintroduced. Each alert includes clear next steps—such as contacting elected officials or sharing on social media—and sample messages to make taking action quick and easy.

Source: Animal Politics