The French star, who has died aged 91, came to embody a new kind of female sexuality on screen that was bold and unapologetic.

She was so famous that she became known simply by her initials.

Emmanuel Macron said Bardot "embodied a life of freedom".

Paying tribute, the French president said: "Her films, her voice, her dazzling glory, her initials, her sorrows, her generous passion for animals, her face that became Marianne" - referring to the national symbol of France.

"French existence, universal brilliance. She touched us. We mourn a legend of the century."

Brigitte Bardot dies: Latest reaction

As a singer, she also released several records during her time in the spotlight, and was famously the muse for Serge Gainsbourg's erotic single Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus.

Despite her success, she retired from acting before she had even turned 40, instead choosing to dedicate her time to helping animals.

Born in Paris in 1934, Bardot rebelled against a strict upbringing to break into film.

She started as a model in the early 1950s, and, after some minor parts, the role that made her a household name came in 1956 - … And God Created Woman.

Directed by her then husband Roger Vadim, the film was considered scandalous at the time for its frank depiction of sensuality, daring to challenge conservative post-war norms about women's behaviour and desire.

Bardot instantly became a symbol of youthful rebellion, a sex symbol and a style icon - an influence that would be felt for decades, seen in the soft, eye-skimming fringes and cat eyeliner many women still turn to today.

Often compared to Marilyn Monroe but with a distinctively European cool, her femininity redefined post-war cinema, captivating audiences.

But while she starred in more than 40 films - and proved she could play much more than the seductive ingenue - by 1973, aged only 39, she walked away from the big screen.

"I gave my youth and my beauty to men," she said of her retirement. "I am going to give my wisdom and experience to animals."

In 1986, Bardot founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation dedicated to combatting animal cruelty, funding sanctuaries and numerous wildlife rescue operations.

Paying tribute to her memory, the foundation called her "an exceptional woman who gave everything and sacrificed everything for a world more respectful of animals."

They went on: "Her legacy lives on through the actions and campaigns that the Foundation pursues with the same passion and unwavering commitment to her ideals."

In later years, she spoke of feeling "used" by the film industry and the media, saying she'd felt increasingly uncomfortable with the constant public scrutiny and the intense objectification she was subjected to.

But Bardot was also a controversial figure herself, with her image tarnished in more recent years following a book she published in 2003 entitled A Cry In Silence, for which she was prosecuted for incitement to racial hatred against Muslims.

She went on to receive several fines over the years for alleged racism in various statements she made, often in the context of her animal campaigning, and most recently in 2021.

But she remained a popular figure to many. While activism and animal welfare were her real passions, she will be best remembered for her lasting influence on international cinema.

Leicestershire Police launched a murder investigation after David Darke died in hospital on Saturday.

He had been injured near the Crown Inn in Appleby Magna, North West Leicestershire, on 21 December.

Police said a 36-year-old man initially arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm had been re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

Officers were called to the pub at about 9.45pm last Sunday.

The force said the victim was outside when he was punched and sustained a serious head injury.

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In a statement Mr Darke's family said: "Dave was a deeply loved father to three daughters and a proud grandfather to three boys.

"He was a much-loved brother and a dear friend. Dave will live on forever in our hearts, minds and souls.

"He was a strong, active, intelligent and kind person who was a friend to all. He was a devoted family man with a deep passion for life, the outdoors, nature and walking.

"His life was tragically cut short and he's now reunited with his loving, caring parents. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him."

Detective Inspector Kevin Hames, of the East Midlands Special Operation Murder Investigation Team, said: "The initial investigation resulted in us identifying several witnesses and examining CCTV from the area.

"Those inquiries will continue and the suspect will be re-interviewed by detectives.

"It is an extremely difficult time for Mr Darke's family and specialist officers are supporting them."

The prime minister said on Friday that he was "delighted" that Alaa Abd El-Fattah had been reunited with his loved ones in the UK.

Historic posts have since emerged of Mr Abd El-Fattah calling for Zionists to be killed.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said Sir Keir's "endorsement" of him showed poor judgment, claiming he had a "record of extremist statements about violence, Jews and the police".

It is understood that Sir Keir was not aware of the posts when he welcomed Mr Abd El-Fattah's return.

Mr Jenrick said if that is the case, then the prime minister should retract his previous comments welcoming his return, revoke his citizenship and deport him.

The Foreign Office said it had been "a long-standing priority under successive governments" to work for his release but that it considered the posts "abhorrent".

Mr Abd El-Fattah, a British-Egyptian dual national, was detained in Egypt in 2019 and was later sentenced to five years in prison on charges of spreading false news.

His imprisonment was branded a breach of international law by UN investigators and he was freed after being pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in September. The Conservatives had also lobbied for his release.

Mr Abd El-Fattah was a leading voice in Egypt's 2011 Arab Spring uprising and went on hunger strikes behind bars.

Sir Keir wrote on X: "I'm delighted that Alaa Abd El-Fattah is back in the UK and has been reunited with his loved ones, who must be feeling profound relief.

"I want to pay tribute to Alaa's family, and to all those that have worked and campaigned for this moment.

"Alaa's case has been a top priority for my government since we came to office. I'm grateful to President Sisi for his decision to grant the pardon."

Mr Jenrick said the remarks constitute a "personal, public endorsement" from the prime minister.

In a letter to Sir Keir he wrote: "Given Mr Abd El-Fattah's record of extremist statements about violence, Jews and the police, it was a serious error of judgment."

Mr Jenrick referred to posts online going back as far as 2010 that appeared to be from Mr Abd El-Fattah's X account.

They include several posts that appear to call for violence towards "zionists" and the police.

In 2014, his posts on Twitter cost him a nomination for the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize.

The group backing him withdrew the nomination for the human rights award, saying they had discovered a tweet from 2012 in which he called for the murder of Israelis.

Mr Jenrick later told Sky News that Sir Keir should revoke Mr Abd El-Fattah's citizenship.

He also posted on X: "If the prime minister really was unaware that El Fattah was an extremist, he should immediately retract his comments expressing 'delight' at his arrival and begin proceedings to revoke his citizenship and deport him."

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The Jewish Leadership Council also voiced concerns in the wake of recent antisemitic attacks in Manchester and at Australia's Bondi Beach.

The council said: "We are appalled by the effusive welcome Alaa Abd El-Fattah has received from the UK government.

"The prime minister recently reiterated his determination to root out antisemitism from our country but has now shared his delight that someone who has advocated for killing Zionists has arrived in the UK.

"We know from Heaton Park, Manchester and Bondi Beach that there are those who hear such words as a call to action.

"The government has celebrated Mr Abd El-Fattah's arrival as a victory, British Jews will see it as yet another reminder of the danger we face."

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "Mr El-Fattah is a British citizen. It has been a long-standing priority under successive governments to work for his release from detention, and to see him reunited with his family in the UK.

"The government condemns Mr El-Fattah's historic tweets and considers them to be abhorrent."

The event aims to emulate one of the most famous games in the sport's history, when Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome in 1973.

But while the players are looking forward to the challenge, critics have said the match risks undermining women's tennis and trivialises the progress made in women's sport.

Here's what you need to know:

Who's playing?

The women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka is taking on Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena at 3.45pm GMT.

Belarusian Sabalenka, 27, is a four-time grand slam winner and the reigning US Open champion.

Kyrgios, 30, although a former Wimbledon finalist, has not played an ATP Tour match since his second-round exit at the Miami Open in March and is currently ranked 652nd in the world after injury struggles.

Both players are signed to Evolve, the sports agency putting on the event.

What are the rules?

The three-set match will use modified rules that see each player restricted to just one serve per point, with a 10-point deciding tie-break if needed.

Sabalenka's side of the court will be 9% smaller to compensate for the difference in speed between men and women.

Has this happened before?

This will be the fourth "Battle of the Sexes" match in history, with the first taking place in May 1973 when Bobby Riggs took on Australian Open and French Open champion Margaret Court.

Court took home $20,000 for playing in the televised match, which Riggs won with straight sets 6-2 6-1, and was later dubbed the "Mother's Day Massacre".

Later that year, on 20 September 1973, Riggs played US Open champion Billie Jean King in what became the most iconic clash of its kind and has been described as a milestone moment in women's sport.

Ex-professional Riggs, then 55, who had been retired from the sport for 14 years, was adamant he could beat any women.

But a 29-year-old King won in straight sets, 6-4 6-3 6-3 in front of more than 30,000 fans at the Astrodome, and watched on television by an estimated 50 million people in the US and 90 million worldwide.

In 1992, 35-year-old Martina Navratilova was beaten 7-5 6-2 by 40-year-old Jimmy Connors at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, in what was dubbed a "Battle of Champions".

Connors got only one serve while giving Navratilova a court expanded by half-a-doubles alley on each side during the pay-per-view event.

What have the players said?

Speaking about the possibility of the match at the US Open, Sabalenka laughed as she pledged to "kick Nick's ass" after he said he would not have to play at 100% to beat her.

She remained confident ahead of the clash, telling reporters when asked who is going to win: "Me.

"This event is really unpredictable. I don't know what to expect and that's what I love because this is the feeling that you chase when you play sport.

"I love to challenge myself and this is a huge challenge, especially playing against Nick, a guy who is unpredictable and crazy.

"It's great training for me and a great message to the girls out there - I hope they will see how strong and tough I am by playing against a guy."

Kyrgios said he knows his opponent "has got some serious weapons at her disposal" but is "prepared and ready".

"If you know me, you know how unpredictable I am, but I'm as well prepared as I possibly could be. I feel like I'm going to win," he said.

"I haven't won a grand slam but I've walked out in a grand slam final. This is something completely different, I don't know how my body or my mind will react.

"It's a completely different energy. I'm going to bring something different, for sure. My strength has always been my unpredictability, even on the men's tour.

"Guys like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have struggled with not understanding how to play me at certain times because even I don't know what I'm going to do at certain times.

"I'm going to bring something she hasn't seen before. I'll play the style of tennis that I know is effective."

What have other people said?

Billie Jean King has said the match is far removed from the classic she played in, but its "good" that it's being talked about.

"It's very different. When I played Bobby Riggs in 1973, it was all about social justice, about culture. It was really about social change. This match is not that," she told Sky Sports.

"I played Bobby straight out, same court, three out of five sets, boom. He didn't think I would do that, but I did.

"Whereas this one, I think they've got different court structure. I don't know. I think it's probably going to be fun, but I certainly hope Sabalenka wins.

"It's not about social justice, it's about entertainment, I guess. I think it's okay [for the sport]. I'll have to think more about it, I guess. I hope they have fun.

"They'll make lots of money. Whatever. I come from a generation who made $14 a day before we had pro tennis, so I have an understanding then and now that a lot of younger people don't. They think it starts out with a lot.

"The fact that they can even get that kind of money to play is fantastic."

Former British number one Greg Rusedski called the event "a gimmick" but said it would be a success if it brings non-tennis fans to the sport.

"Billie Jean was fighting for something so important and she was really the catalyst for everything that's happened in the women's game to date," he said.

"I think there's been so many changes in women's sport. They're getting equal prize money, which is the right thing they should be doing at all the slams, so I don't see it as the same moment.

"It's not two serves, it's not the real tennis. I just don't know what it stands for."

Former British number one Laura Robson told Sky Sports Tennis: "I'm interested to hear what the appeal is for Aryna. I'm not sure this is what the game is missing."

"He doesn't have anything until I approve it," is how he trailed Volodymyr Zelenskyy's upcoming visit to Mar-a-Lago.

The Ukrainian leader has spoken of a peace plan that's "90% ready" but, as the guest markets its potential, the host isn't buying - yet, at least.

Any breakthrough breaks down on Russian refusal and Donald Trump needs no reminding - it's the evergreen reality that has undermined peace efforts and tested his diplomatic muscle with Moscow, often with unflattering results.

Zelenskyy and coalition allies have talked him back from the brink - a sell-out, as they saw it, when the US floated a 28-point plan that read like a Russian wish list.

The 20-point version crafted in Kyiv includes compromise and Zelenskyy talks of a "good conversation" with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, in teeing up a tete-a-tete with the man himself.

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So far, so promising - but relative silence from Moscow screams otherwise.

Russian officials have made some optimistic noises but they have been measured and minimal. Vladimir Putin has barely shifted from his original position on Ukraine and there's limited expectation that will change this weekend.

Why would it?

This is a Russian leader basking in the bonhomie of a president reshaping US relations to Moscow's advantage and he senses opportunity to pursue territorial ambitions. Antagonism between the US and European allies is but another benefit to Putin of things as they are.

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In such circumstances, a framework proposal that locks down his ambition, long-term, won't necessarily land well in Moscow.

Is that why he played down the significance of the Zelenskyy plan?

Not for the first time, any Russian reluctance will be a test for Donald Trump - of strength, diplomacy, and of where his loyalties lie.