Tributes have been paid to the late French actress Brigette Bardot, who has died aged 91.
Bardot, is remembered as one of the most sought after names of post-war cinema, before later withdrawing from showbusiness in order to focus on worthwhile causes such as animal rights. In her career, she was hailed as a 1960s "sex symbol".
The actress starred in dozens of movies, including Et Dieu Crea La Femme (And God Created Woman), which propelled her to international stardom.
Widely known as BB because of her initials, pronounced bebe, Bardot was also known for her campaigning efforts, including teaming up with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), which helped to fight against the annual seal slaughter in Canada, along with the sale of foie gras in department store, Fortnum And Mason.
Paying tribute to Bardot, Peta released this statement: "Peta is grateful to Brigitte Bardot for speaking out so beautifully for animals, and we know that her foundation - and all of us who were inspired by her commitment - will continue to advocate for them with her heart and voice".
In a statement shared to the Press Association, The Brigitte Bardot foundation, an organisation dedicated to the protection of animals, revealed that the late actress died at her home in southern France.
"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 the defence of animals and her foundation", they said.
"The foundation will continue, now more than ever, to champion the work of Brigitte Bardot".
Elsewhere, Peta's president, Ingrid Newkirk paid tribute to Bardot, calling her "an angel for animals".
"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", Newkirk said. "A vegetarian for years, a strong voice for all species, she recounted in the chapter she dictated for my book, One Can Make A Difference, how she sold her jewellery and other possessions to start a sanctuary and defend animals".
"She once said that only through protecting animals did she truly bloom - and we call on the public to honour her memory by doing something kind for animals today, so that the seeds she planted continue to flourish".
French President Emmanuel Macron led the tributes to Bardot, calling her "a legend of the century".
"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", the politician wrote.
Far right French politician Marine Le Pen, who had been supported by Bardot in the past, said that the late actress was "incredibly French: free, untamable )sic), whole" and added: "She will be greatly missed by us".
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) also paid homage to Bardot, hailing her as "a symbol of sexual liberation in film", adding that she was also nominated for Viva Maria in 1967.
