Brigitte Bardot, 91, Faces Health Struggles After Surgery in France
At 91, Brigitte Bardot is facing a tough chapter with her health. According to the French newspaper Var-Matin, the iconic actress has been in a hospital in Toulon, France, for nearly three weeks following surgery for a serious illness.
Those close to her describe her condition as concerning, yet there’s hope she’ll soon return to her home in St. Tropez. Her team hasn’t shared further details about her situation.
Bardot’s journey began as a teenager, gracing the cover of Elle magazine at 15 in 1950, which opened the door to her acting career.
She quickly became a global sensation in the 1950s and 60s, captivating audiences in films like Crazy for Love and Manila, the Girl in the Bikini. Known as a screen siren, she was a symbol of allure, even starring alongside James Stewart in her first Hollywood film, Dear Brigitte, in 1965. But fame wasn’t always kind to her. In a 2010 interview with FRANCE magazine, she opened up about her struggles, admitting, “I have really been on the verge of suicide several times — it’s a miracle that I am still alive.”
Since stepping away from acting in the mid-1980s, Bardot has poured her heart into animal rights, founding the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986 to protect both wild and domestic animals.
Her passion for this cause has defined her later years, though her outspoken views have sometimes stirred controversy. In 2008, she faced a fine of nearly $25,000 for comments deemed discriminatory, and in 2018, she criticized the #MeToo movement, calling some accusations hypocritical in an interview with Paris Match.
Her health has been a concern before. In 2023, her husband, Bernard d’Ormale, shared that she needed medical help during a heatwave when she struggled to breathe. Now, as she navigates this latest challenge, Bardot remains a complex figure—a woman who shaped an era, fought for animals, and never shied away from speaking her mind, even when it sparked debate.
