Brigitte Bardot: A Legend Grapples with Loss, Finds Solace in Handwritten Words
Brigitte Bardot, the iconic actress and animal rights activist, is no stranger to the public eye. But behind the enduring image of a screen siren lies a woman deeply affected by the passage of time and the loss of those closest to her. While she remains an "irreducible fighter," as many know her,the recent deaths of cherished friends have undoubtedly left their mark.
Bardot, known for her directness, frequently enough bypasses formal statements, choosing rather to express her grief thru handwritten messages shared on X (formerly Twitter). This personal touch offers a glimpse into the raw emotion she experiences. As she poignantly wrote after the passing of Jean-Paul Belmondo in September 2021, "I miss it and I no longer want to talk about it, the big pains are silent." A similar sentiment echoed following the death of Alain Delon, her "friend, his alter ego," last year.
This summer has been especially tough.On August 8th, Pierre Coville, a figure largely unknown to the public, passed away. Coville,who ran a cabaret in Montfort-l'amaury,near Bardot's animal foundation in Bazoches-sur-Guyonne,held a special place in her heart. Bardot used her influence to help him establish his cabaret, even securing a performance by the Gipsy Kings. Her handwritten tribute on X read, "My heart accompanies you where you are going to go."
Just weeks later, on September 1st, Bardot was again compelled to share her grief, this time following the death of Christian Brincourt, a veteran reporter and longtime friend from Paris Match. "My heart has a thousand pieces," she wrote. "My friend, my twin, my brinque is dead... He was like a great royal oak full of wisdom and good advice." Brincourt was more than just a friend; he was a confidante, a pillar of support for over sixty-five years. So much so that Bardot even contacted Paris Match directly to express her disappointment that his passing wasn't given cover story prominence.