India, Dec. 29 -- Brigitte Bardot, the French 1960s sex symbol who became one of the greatest screen sirens of the 20th century and later a militant animal rights activist, has died at the age of 91. Bruno Jacquelin, of the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the protection of animals, told that she died at her home in southern France, and would not provide a cause of death.

He said no arrangements have yet been made for funeral or memorial services. She had been hospitalised last month. Bardot became an international celebrity as a sexualized teen bride in the 1956 movie "And God Created Woman." Directed by her then-husband, Roger Vadim, it triggered a scandal with scenes of the long-legged beauty dancing on tables naked.

At the height of a...