The husband of French cinematic icon Brigitte Bardot has publicly revealed the cause of her death, as friends and admirers gathered to bid farewell at her funeral in Saint-Tropez.
Details of a Private Battle
In an interview with Paris Match published on Wednesday, 7th January 2026, Bardot's husband, Bernard d'Ormale, shared that the actress had undergone two cancer operations prior to her passing. He stated that his wife had "tolerated very well the two procedures she underwent to treat the cancer that took her."
This confirmation came just ahead of her funeral service, providing clarity after initial reports suggested she died weeks after surgery from a 'sudden illness'. Bardot passed away at her home in Saint-Tropez in December 2025, aged 91.
A Global Symbol Laid to Rest
The screen legend, who became an international symbol of sensuality and rebellion after her breakthrough in And God Created Woman, died in the seaside town inseparable from her image. She had retreated there after abandoning filmmaking in the early 1970s.
Mourners gathered in Saint-Tropez for a church service and burial, marking the final farewell to one of France's most recognisable cultural figures. The funeral was deliberately understated, reflecting Bardot's long-standing wish for privacy in her later years.
An Outpouring of Global Tributes
The news of her death last month prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the world. Until the revelation by Bernard d'Ormale, no official cause of death had been disclosed to the public.
The new details bring a close to the life of a woman who captivated global audiences and defined an era of French cinema, leaving a legacy that extends far beyond the silver screen.
