Dec 28 (Reuters) – Tributes to Brigitte Bardot, an icon of French cinema, poured in on Sunday following the announcement of her death at the age of 91. Below are a selection. FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON "Her films, her voice, her dazzling fame, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne – Brigitte Bardot embodied a life of freedom. A French existence, a universal radiance. She moved us. We mourn a legend of the century." (Bardot's face was used as the model for an official bust of Marianne, an allegorical female figure who symbolises the values of the French Republic, which was installed in town halls across the country from the late 1960s onward.) ITALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MATTEO SALVINI "A timeless star, but above all a woman who was free, nonconformist, protagonist of courageous battles in defence of our traditions. A prayer for her." ITALIAN CULTURE MINISTER ALESSANDRO GIULI "Brigitte Bardot was not only one of the great protagonists of world cinema, but also an extraordinary interpreter of Western fundamental freedoms. That Brigitte Bardot was an icon of beauty, admired and sought after throughout the world, is incontrovertible. That she resolutely defended her vision of cultural and social values, and civic engagement, deserves attention and great respect. We want to remember her in this way, in her true beauty." THE BRIGITTE BARDOT FOUNDATION "Mrs Brigitte Bardot (was) a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to give up her prestigious career in order to devote her life and energy to the defence of animals and to her Foundation," it said. PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS (PETA) FOUNDER INGRID NEWKIRK "From her rescued pigeons in Saint-Tropez to her beloved dogs, PETA will miss Brigitte, an angel for animals who went to bat and to court to protect them all." FRENCH ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY (SPA FRANCE) "The SPA pays tribute to Brigitte Bardot, an iconic figure and a passionate advocate for the animal cause. Since the 1970s, and later through her foundation created in the 1980s, she devoted her life to defending those who have no voice. Her unwavering commitment helped change attitudes and achieve major advances in animal protection … Thank you, B.B., for all that you have accomplished." FRENCH FAR-RIGHT POLITICIAN JORDAN BARDELLA "The French people today lose the Marianne they so deeply loved and whose beauty astonished the world. Brigitte Bardot was a woman of heart, conviction, and character. A passionate patriot and a lover of animals that she protected throughout her life, she alone embodied an entire era of French history, and above all a certain idea of courage and freedom." THE CITY OF SAINT-TROPEZ, BARDOT'S LONGTIME HOME "An icon of French cinema and an international figure, Brigitte Bardot will forever be associated with Saint-Tropez, of which she was the most radiant ambassador. Through her presence, her personality, and her aura, she left her mark on the history of our town and helped to make Saint-Tropez shine across the world," the city said. "Brigitte Bardot now belongs to the collective memory of Saint-Tropez, which we must preserve. She will continue to inhabit the soul of our town." FRENCH ACTOR PIERRE ARDITI "She wasn't just one of the most beautiful women in the world – she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and she still is, in fact," he said. "She had a courage that men still don't reference, and if she cared so deeply about animals … it's probably because she had been disappointed by men – all men – and I understand that. We are relatively disappointing; I can speak for my own gender." SINGER, GUITARIST AND GIPSY KINGS COFOUNDER CHICO BOUCHIKHI "We've been friends for 45 years … Had Brigitte Bardot not existed, we would have never had the career that we did. She believed in us before everyone. She loved, she loved to laugh, she loved life, she loved sharing those moments of happiness, and when she came to find us, it was for herself. Those were magic moments." "There was a before and an after Brigitte Bardot for us. Imagine: We were begging on the streets of Saint-Tropez. She would come with us to our private gigs and small parties, she would put on a skirt and a wig and begin to dance, and the people would say, 'Incredible, that dancer looks like Brigitte Bardot!' It was fabulous, the legend of Bardot was born then and there." (Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter, America Hernandez, Alessandro Parodi; Editing by Frances Kerry and Hugh Lawson)
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