Brigitte Bardot health update after being rushed to hospital with 'serious illness'

Legendary actress Brigitte Bardot is now recuperating at home after being discharged from hospital following a "serious illness".

The film icon, 91, is believed to have undergone surgery after being rushed to the private hospital in Toulon, France this month.

It has now been revealed that the actress - amongst the most recognised faces of the sexual revolution from the late 1950s to early 1970s - has recovered enough to be able to leave the hospital and is back at her home.

The actress expressed gratitude to staff and the surgical team at the Saint-Jean Private Hospital in Toulon, Bardot's representative has confirmed to respected French news agency AFP, reports the Mirror.

Supporters of the star were left concerned after the news she was rushed to hospital, with one writing on X: "God bless her. She's one of my favourite people."

Another commented: "Madame Bardot, all my heart is with you."

Bardot had a lengthy career in the spotlight but in recent years the star has largely withdrawn from public appearances and is seldom spotted in public.

She achieved global stardom in the 1950s and '60s through her uninhibited performances in films such as And God Created Woman. As a vocalist, she also produced numerous recordings during that period.

Brigitte stopped acting in the 1970s, relocating permanently to the French Riviera town of Saint-Tropez, and devoted herself to animal welfare causes through a foundation bearing her name. However, in July 2023, she experienced severe breathing difficulties, leading to emergency services rushing to her Saint-Tropez home.

Her husband, Bernard d'Ormale, confirmed the incident, revealing that there was initial confusion as the wrong address was given to the emergency services.

Despite this health scare and a recent one requiring surgery, the actress has managed to overcome these challenges. The exact nature of her health issue has not been disclosed by her representatives.

Bardot was just 15 when she catapulted to fame after appearing on the cover of Elle, which subsequently led to an acting offer for the film Les Lauriers sont coupes. In 1957, she achieved worldwide recognition for her role in And God Created Woman and became the subject of philosopher Simon de Beauvoir's essay The Lolita Syndrome.

The film icon has been married four times, first to husband Roger Vadim (1952-57), Jacques Charrier (1959-62), Gunter Sachs (1966-69) and Bernard d'Ormale, who she married in 1992.

She welcomed a son, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, with her second husband in 1960.

Bardot ended her film career in 1973 so she could dedicate herself to her animal rights charity.