French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot will be buried in the maritime cemetery in Saint-Tropez, and not in her mansion, as previously reported, writes Radio Ici, citing the town hall of Saint-Tropez, where the actress lived.
Bardo previously said that she wanted to be buried in her property, and not in the city cemetery, to prevent crowds of fans and tourists from damaging the graves of her parents, who are buried there. However, according to the radio station, she later changed her mind. The Var prefecture also said it had not received a request for a burial on the grounds of the Villa Madrag, where the actress lived.
The naval cemetery in Saint-Tropez is located on the seafront near the city center. In addition to Bardot's parents, the remains of several famous people, including Eddie Barclay and Pierre Bachelet, are also buried there. The actress will be buried in a crypt near the grave of director Roger Vadim (born Vadim Igorevich Plemyannikov), her first husband, who, according to the actress, "made her what she is."
The exact date and conditions of the funeral ceremony have not yet been determined. It could take place next week. Although friends of the actress had previously said the funeral would be modest, authorities acknowledged that the event could draw a large crowd of admirers of her work and animal rights activism.
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announced that the French actress had died at the age of 91. A representative for the foundation did not specify the cause of death, noting only that her legacy will live on in the foundation's actions and policies aimed at protecting animals.
On November 24, the newspaper Var-Matin reported that Bardot had been hospitalized in the southern city of Toulon. According to the newspaper, the actress had been admitted to the Saint-Jean hospital approximately 10 days before the publication. The reason for the actress's hospitalization was not specified. In October, the newspaper “Nice-Matin“ also reported that the actress had spent several weeks in a hospital in Toulon due to “serious illness”.