Large crowds gathered in the streets of Saint-Tropez on Wednesday to commemorate the life of French cinematic icon, Brigitte Bardot, at her funeral.
Mourners were observed applauding as the hearse carrying her coffin proceeded through the French Riviera town following a service held at a local church.
Among those attending the service were prominent figures such as Marine le Pen, a far-right politician, and Aurore Bergé, the Minister for Equality, who shares Bardot’s commitment to animal rights. The celebrated actress was subsequently laid to rest in a hillside cemetery overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Bardot, a transformative figure in 1950s French cinema and a symbol of sexual liberation, passed away at the age of 91, succumbing to cancer just three days after Christmas.
Despite Bardot’s wishes for a modest and unostentatious funeral, the residents of Saint-Tropez sought to offer a fitting farewell on Wednesday.
Screens were erected throughout the small fishing town, which Bardot’s fame had transformed into a glamorous destination for the international jet set.
Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, Bardot’s only son, was among those who carried the coffin to the cemetery, where the actress’s parents and her first husband, Roger Vadim, are also buried.
Following her death, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed her as “a legend of the century,” while the Brigitte Bardot Foundation commemorated her as a “world-renowned actress.”
The cinematic icon, affectionately known as “BB” in her native country, starred in nearly 50 films, including the iconic “And God Created Woman,” before retiring in 1973 to dedicate her life to animal welfare.
In later years, Bardot’s reputation was tarnished by controversial remarks, including homophobic slurs, and multiple fines for inciting racial hatred.
Her right-wing political views caused alienation from many within the political establishment.
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