Brigitte Bardot, French Icon and Animal Activist, Dies at 91

French film legend and activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91. Bardot was a global screen icon. She starred in 56 films. Her career defined a new era of European cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. She shocked the world in 1973. At age 39, she suddenly ended her acting career. Bardot then dedicated her life completely to animal rights. She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for animal welfare in 1986. For decades, she was a powerful and sometimes controversial voice for animals. Her activism often made headlines in France. Bardot's legacy is now two-fold: an unforgettable film star and a fierce lifelong activist.