LONDON

The French actress and animal rights campaigner Brigitte Bardot has died at the age of 91, her foundation said on Sunday.

In a statement seen by French media, she was described as a “world-renowned actress and singer.”

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announced her death on Sunday, paying tribute to her decision to turn away from the spotlight to focus on animal welfare.

“The Brigitte Bardot foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation,” it said in a statement sent to Agence France-Presse on Sunday, without specifying the time or place of death.

Bardot rose to international fame in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming one of France’s most recognizable cultural figures.

She starred in dozens of films and was widely regarded as a symbol of French cinema and style.

At the height of her popularity, she was known not only for her acting career but also for her influence on fashion and popular culture worldwide.

In the early 1970s, Bardot retired from acting, later devoting herself almost entirely to animal rights activism.

She founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation in 1986, which campaigns against animal cruelty and supports animal protection initiatives around the world.