French movie star and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91, El.kz cites dw.com.

"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 French news agency AFP. 

The foundation's Bruno Jacquelin told The Associated Press Bardot died at her home in southern France. He did not give a cause of death and said no immediate arrangements have been made for funeral or memorial services.

French President Emmanuel Macron praised Bardot for her excellence on and off the screen, writing on social media platform X: "Her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne, Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom."

"French existence, universal brilliance," he added. "She touched us. We mourn a legend of the century."