Brigitte Bardot’s Health Struggle Disclosed Following Her Passing at 91
Brigitte Bardot had been battling cancer prior to her passing last month, her spouse, Bernard d’Ormale, has disclosed.
The legendary actress died peacefully at 91 on December 28th at La Madrague her Saint-Tropez, France residence following two cancer-related surgical procedures and enduring significant spinal discomfort, d’Ormale shared with French publication Paris Match before the actress’ memorial service on Wednesday, January 7th.
Final Days With Her Devoted Husband
d’Ormale, who wed Bardot in 1992, described his wife’s final moments to the publication, stating, “I remained constantly by her side. I cared for her, assisted by nursing staff who visited discreetly daily,” according to the translated coverage.
“Each morning, I brought her the breakfast she cherished. Much like a young child, she enjoyed her afternoon treat as well: milk tea accompanied by a croissant,” he reminisced to the magazine.
Recalling the morning Bardot passed, he shared, “I was drowsing beside her when I heard her whisper ‘Pioupiou,’ our private endearment for one another, and then she was gone,” Paris Match documented.
d’Ormale continued, telling the publication, “A profound serenity washed over her features. She became remarkably beautiful once more, resembling her younger self. No one would have guessed her age.”
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation had not provided a response when people sought comment.
Official Confirmation and Funeral Arrangements
The foundation acknowledged Bardot’s passing in a December 28th statement, expressing they were announcing “with profound sorrow the passing of its Founder and President, Mrs. Brigitte Bardot, an internationally celebrated actress and vocalist, who deliberately abandoned her illustrious career to commit her life and efforts to animal protection and her Foundation.”
Bardot’s burial will occur following a private ceremony at the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Catholic Church in Saint Tropez on Wednesday, January 7th. Memorial tributes are planned at the French Riviera location where she resided for more than five decades following her departure from entertainment, the Associated Press reported.
Following the religious service, Bardot will be interred “with complete privacy” at a burial ground overlooking the Mediterranean waters, the AP noted, referencing the Saint-Tropez municipal office.
A Town Remembers Its Icon
The Saint-Tropez visitor services department posted on Facebook after learning of Bardot’s death that the actress “will eternally be linked with Saint-Tropez, serving as its most elegant representative.”
“Through her presence, character and magnetism, she shaped our town’s narrative and introduced Saint-Tropez to audiences worldwide,” the message continued. “Beyond the celebrity, locals will treasure the remembrance of a woman who, over fifty years ago, decided during the height of worldwide recognition to establish permanent residence in Saint-Tropez, La Madrague, dedicating herself to animal advocacy and safeguarding.”
Health Struggles Preceded Her Death
Information about Bardot’s passing emerged after PEOPLE disclosed in October that the actress had received surgical treatment during a “severe medical condition.”
A Complex Cultural Legacy
Bardot departed leaving behind a multifaceted legacy. She achieved iconic status in French cinema and gained worldwide recognition through her performance in 1956’s And God Created Woman, though her later years generated controversy stemming from divisive viewpoints and legal complications regarding discriminatory and prejudiced statements.
From Model to Screen Legend to Activist
The performer and vocalist launched her professional journey as a fashion model, gracing Elle’s cover in 1950 at age 15, before performing in productions including 1952’s Crazy for Love and The Girl in the Bikini, plus Dear Brigitte in 1965 alongside James Stewart.
Bardot, who achieved international stardom and embodied the era’s idealized feminine image, stepped away from performing in 1973 at 39 and pursued a different professional direction: animal welfare advocacy, establishing the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals in 1986.
Mental Health Battles Behind the Glamour
Despite considerable professional achievements throughout her career, she simultaneously grappled with psychological wellbeing challenges. Bardot discussed her difficulties with celebrity status during a 2010 conversation with FRANCE magazine, revealing, “I have genuinely approached the brink of ending my life multiple times—it’s remarkable that I survived.”
Her candid acknowledgment of mental health struggles provided a glimpse beyond the glamorous public persona, revealing the profound personal challenges that accompanied her extraordinary fame and the pressures of being one of cinema’s most recognizable figures during the mid-20th century.