Brigitte Bardot's death, at the age of 91, brings to a close one of the most extraordinary careers in post-war French cultural life.
Best known as an actress, she was also a singer, a fashion icon, an animal rights activist and a symbol of France's sexual liberation.
Famous enough to be known by her initials, B.B. symbolized a certain vision of French femininity -- rebellious and sensual, yet vulnerable.
Her impact on beauty standards and French national identity was profound. At her peak, she rivalled Marilyn Monroe in global fame and recognition. Simone de Beauvoir, France's leading feminist writer, famously wrote in 1959 that Bardot "appears as a force of nature, dangerous so long as she remains untamed."
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