Jane Mallory Birkin,
OBE (born 14 December 1946) is an English-French singer and actress. She attained international fame and notability for her decade-long musical and romantic partnership with
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg (; born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a French musician, singer-songwriter, actor, author and filmmaker. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provoca ...
. She also had a prolific career as an actress in British and French cinema.
A native of London, Birkin began her career as an actress, appearing in minor roles in
Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni (, ; 29 September 1912 – 30 July 2007) was an Italian filmmaker. He is best known for directing his "trilogy on modernity and its discontents"—''L'Avventura'' (1960), ''La Notte'' (1961), and ''L'Eclisse'' (1962 ...
's ''
Blowup
''Blowup'' (sometimes styled as ''Blow-up'' or ''Blow Up'') is a 1966 mystery drama thriller film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and produced by Carlo Ponti. It was Antonioni's first entirely English-language film, and stars David Hemming ...
'' (1966), and ''
Kaleidoscope
A kaleidoscope () is an optical instrument with two or more reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) tilted to each other at an angle, so that one or more (parts of) objects on one end of these mirrors are shown as a regular symmetrical pattern when v ...
'' (1966). In 1968, she met Serge Gainsbourg while co-starring with him in ''
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan, political slogan, political, Advertising slogan, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the publi ...
'', which marked the beginning of a years-long working and personal relationship. The duo released their debut album ''
Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg
''Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg'' (also known as ''Je t'aime... moi non plus'') is a 1969 collaborative studio album by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. It was originally released by Fontana Records. It includes " Je t'aime... moi non plus", whic ...
'' (1969), and Birkin also appeared in the controversial film ''
Je t'aime moi non plus'' (1976) under Gainsbourg's direction. Birkin would attain further acting credits in the
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictiona ...
adaptations ''
Death on the Nile
''Death on the Nile'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 1 November 1937 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company the following year. The UK edition retailed at s ...
'' (1978), and ''
Evil Under the Sun'' (1982).
After separating from Gainsbourg in 1980, Birkin continued to work as both an actress and a singer, appearing in various independent films and recording numerous solo albums. In 1991, she appeared in the miniseries ''
Red Fox
The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the Order (biology), order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe ...
'', and in the American drama film ''
A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries'', in 1998. In 2016, she starred in the
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
-nominated
short film
A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...
''
La femme et le TGV
''La femme et le TGV'' (English: ''The Railroad Lady'') is a 2016 Swiss French-language short film directed by Timo von Gunten. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for many industry awards including the Academy Award for Best Live Action ...
'', which she said would be her final film role.
Birkin has lived mainly in France since the 1970s. She is the mother of photographer
Kate Barry, with her first husband
John Barry; actress and singer
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (; born 21 July 1971) is a British-French actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress Jane Birkin and French musician Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the song " Lemo ...
, with Serge Gainsbourg; and musician
Lou Doillon
Lou Doillon (born 4 September 1982) is a French-English singer, actress and model.
Personal life
Doillon is the daughter of French writer/director Jacques Doillon and English actress/singer Jane Birkin. She has six brothers and sisters: Ka ...
, with
Jacques Doillon
Jacques Doillon (; born 15 March 1944) is a French film director. He has a habit of giving lead roles to inexperienced young actresses in his films on family life and women. Some actresses to break through are Fanny Bastien, Sandrine Bonnaire, Ju ...
. In addition to her acting and musical credits, she lent her name to the
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès ( , ), is a French luxury design house established in 1837. It specializes in leather goods, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear. Its logo, since ...
Birkin handbag.
Early life
Jane Mallory Birkin was born on 14 December 1946, in
Marylebone
Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary.
An Civil parish#Ancient parishes, ancient parish and latterly a ...
, London. Her mother,
Judy Campbell
Judy Campbell (born Judith Mary Gamble; 31 May 1916 – 6 June 2004) was an English film, television and stage actress, widely known to be Noël Coward's muse. Her daughter is the actress and singer Jane Birkin, her son the screenwriter and di ...
, was an English actress, best known for her work on stage. Her father, David Birkin, was a
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank i ...
and World War II
spy
Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangib ...
. Her brother is screenwriter and director
Andrew Birkin
Andrew Timothy Birkin (born 9 December 1945) is an English screenwriter and director. He was born the only son of Lieutenant-Commander David Birkin and his wife, actress Judy Campbell. One of his sisters is the actress and singer Jane Birkin.
W ...
. She is first cousin twice removed to theatre and opera director
Sophie Hunter
Sophie Irene Hunter (born 16 March 1978) is an English theatre director, playwright and former actress and singer. She made her directorial debut in 2007 co-directing the experimental play ''The Terrific Electric'' at the Barbican Pit after her ...
. Birkin was raised in
Chelsea
Chelsea or Chelsey may refer to:
Places Australia
* Chelsea, Victoria
Canada
* Chelsea, Nova Scotia
* Chelsea, Quebec
United Kingdom
* Chelsea, London, an area of London, bounded to the south by the River Thames
** Chelsea (UK Parliament consti ...
,
and described herself as a "shy English girl."
She attended
Miss Ironside's School in Kensington.
She was also educated at
Upper Chine School,
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...
. At age 17, she met composer
John Barry, whom she married in 1965 and with whom she had her first daughter,
Kate Kate name may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Kate (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or nickname
* Gyula Káté (born 1982), Hungarian amateur boxer
* Lauren Kate (born 1981), American autho ...
, in 1967. After the couple divorced in 1968, Birkin returned to live with her family in London, and began to audition for film and television roles in England and Los Angeles, California.
Career
Early acting credits
Birkin emerged in the
Swinging London
The Swinging Sixties was a youth-driven cultural revolution that took place in the United Kingdom during the mid-to-late 1960s, emphasising modernity and fun-loving hedonism, with Swinging London as its centre. It saw a flourishing in art, mus ...
scene of the 1960s, appearing in an uncredited part in ''
The Knack ...and How to Get It'' (1965). She had more substantial roles in the
counterculture era films ''
Blowup
''Blowup'' (sometimes styled as ''Blow-up'' or ''Blow Up'') is a 1966 mystery drama thriller film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and produced by Carlo Ponti. It was Antonioni's first entirely English-language film, and stars David Hemming ...
'' and ''
Kaleidoscope
A kaleidoscope () is an optical instrument with two or more reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) tilted to each other at an angle, so that one or more (parts of) objects on one end of these mirrors are shown as a regular symmetrical pattern when v ...
'' (both 1966), as a fantasy-like model in the
psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
film ''
Wonderwall'' (1968) and in the erotic French thriller ''
La Piscine'' (1969). That same year, she auditioned in France for the lead female role in the film ''
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan, political slogan, political, Advertising slogan, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the publi ...
'' (1969). Though she did not speak French she won the role, co-starring alongside
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg (; born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a French musician, singer-songwriter, actor, author and filmmaker. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provoca ...
, and she performed with him on the film's theme song, "La Chanson de Slogan" – the first of many collaborations between the two. After filming ''Slogan'', Birkin relocated to France permanently.
Collaborations with Serge Gainsbourg
![Jane birkin 1970](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Jane_birkin_1970.jpg)
In 1969, Gainsbourg and she released the duet "
Je t'aime... moi non plus" ("I love you ... me neither"). Gainsbourg originally had written the song for
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot ( ; ; born 28 September 1934), often referred to by her initials B.B., is a former French actress, singer and model. Famous for portraying sexually emancipated characters with hedonistic lifestyles, she was one of the ...
. The song caused a scandal for its sexual explicitness, and was banned by radio stations in Italy,
Spain, and the United Kingdom.
"Je t'aime" made UK chart history in that on 4 October 1969 and the following week on 11 October, the song was at two different chart positions, though it is the same song, the same artists, and the same recorded version. The only difference was that they were on different record labels. It was originally released on the Fontana label, but due to its controversy, Fontana withdrew the record, which was then released on the Major Minor label. Because Fontana singles were still in the shops along with the Major Minor release, on 4 October 1969, the Major Minor release was at number three and the Fontana single at number 16. Also at that time, it was the biggest-selling single ever for a completely foreign-language record. She appeared on Gainsbourg's 1971 album ''
Histoire de Melody Nelson
''Histoire de Melody Nelson'' is a 1971 concept album by French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Produced by Jean-Claude Desmarty, the album was released on March 24, 1971 through Philips Records. Its narrative follows an illicit romance which devel ...
'', portraying the
Lolita
''Lolita'' is a 1955 novel written by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabokov. The novel is notable for its controversial subject: the protagonist and unreliable narrator, a middle-aged literature professor under the pseudonym Humbert Humber ...
-like protagonist in song and on the cover. Reflecting on being a muse and collaborator of Gainsbourg's, Birkin commented: "
t is
T, or t, is the twentieth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''tee'' (pronounced ), plural ''tees''. It is der ...
very flattering to have the most beautiful songs, probably, in the French language written for one.
uthow much talent did I really have? Perhaps not that much."
She took a break from acting in 1971–1972, but returned as Brigitte Bardot's lover in ''
Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman
''Don Juan, or If Don Juan Were a Woman'' (french: Don Juan ou Si Don Juan était une femme...) is a 1973 erotic drama film directed by Roger Vadim. It sees Vadim reunite with his leading lady and ex-wife Brigitte Bardot for their fifth film toget ...
'' (1973).
The same year, she had a supporting role in the horror film ''
Dark Places'' with
Christopher Lee
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...
and
Joan Collins
Dame Joan Henrietta Collins (born 23 May 1933) is an English actress, author and columnist. Collins is the recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a People's Choice Award, two Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Primetime ...
. In 1975, she appeared in Gainsbourg's first film, ''
Je t'aime moi non plus'', which created a stir for frank examination of sexual ambiguity, and was banned in the United Kingdom by the
British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC, previously the British Board of Film Censors) is a non-governmental organisation founded by the British film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of f ...
. For this performance, she was nominated for a Best Actress
César Award Cesar, César or Cèsar may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''César'' (film), a 1936 film directed by Marcel Pagnol
* ''César'' (play), a play by Marcel Pagnolt
* César Award, a French film award
Places
* Cesar, Portugal
* C ...
.
Later performances and recordings
![Jane Birkin07](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Jane_Birkin07.JPG)
In 1978, Birkin modeled in trade advertisements for
Lee Cooper
Lee Cooper is an English-American clothing and footwear manufacturing company, based in London, that specialises in denim products. As well as its own production, the company licences the sale of many Lee Cooper-branded items worldwide. Fou ...
jeans.
She then appeared in the
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictiona ...
films ''
Death on the Nile
''Death on the Nile'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 1 November 1937 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company the following year. The UK edition retailed at s ...
'' (1978) and ''
Evil Under the Sun'' (1982), and recorded several albums, including ''Baby Alone in Babylone'', ''Amours des Feintes'', ''Lolita Go Home'', and ''Rendez-vous''. She won Female Artist of the Year in the 1992
Victoires de la Musique
Victoires de la Musique (; en, Victories of Music) is an annual French award ceremony where the Victoire accolade is delivered by the French Ministry of Culture to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry. The classical and jazz ...
.
She starred in two films directed by
Jacques Doillon
Jacques Doillon (; born 15 March 1944) is a French film director. He has a habit of giving lead roles to inexperienced young actresses in his films on family life and women. Some actresses to break through are Fanny Bastien, Sandrine Bonnaire, Ju ...
– as Anne in ''La fille prodigue'' (1981) and as Alma in ''
La pirate
''The Pirate'' (french: La Pirate) is a 1984 French drama film directed by Jacques Doillon. It was entered in the 1984 Cannes Film Festival.
Plot summary
Cast
* Jane Birkin as Alma
* Maruschka Detmers as Carole
* Philippe Léotard as n° 5
* ...
'' (1984, nominated for a César Award). This work led to an invitation from
Patrice Chéreau
Patrice Chéreau (; 2 November 1944 – 7 October 2013) was a French opera and theatre director, filmmaker, actor and producer. In France he is best known for his work for the theatre, internationally for his films '' La Reine Margot'' and ...
to star on stage in ''
La Fausse suivante'' by
Marivaux
Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux (4 February 1688 – 12 February 1763), commonly referred to as Marivaux, was a French playwright and novelist.
He is considered one of the most important French playwrights of the 18th century, writing nume ...
at
Nanterre
Nanterre (, ) is the prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department in the western suburbs of Paris. It is located some northwest of the centre of Paris. In 2018, the commune had a population of 96,807.
The eastern part of Nanterre, bordering t ...
. She worked with director Herbert Vesely on ''
Egon Schiele Exzess und Bestrafung'' in 1980, appearing as the mistress of Austrian artist
Egon Schiele
Egon Leo Adolf Ludwig Schiele (; 12 June 1890 – 31 October 1918) was an Austrian Expressionist painter. His work is noted for its intensity and its raw sexuality, and for the many self-portraits the artist produced, including nude self-portr ...
, played by
Mathieu Carrière
Mathieu Carrière (; born 2 August 1950) is a German actor.
Life
Carrière grew up in Berlin and Lübeck; he attended the Jesuit boarding school in Vannes, France, a school which had previously been attended by the director of Carrière's fir ...
.
Jacques Rivette
Jacques Rivette (; 1 March 1928 – 29 January 2016) was a French film director and film critic most commonly associated with the French New Wave and the film magazine ''Cahiers du Cinéma''. He made twenty-nine films, including ''L'amour fou' ...
collaborated with her in ''Love on the Ground'' (1983) and ''
La Belle Noiseuse
''La Belle Noiseuse'' (, ) is a 1991 drama film directed by Jacques Rivette and starring Michel Piccoli, Jane Birkin and Emmanuelle Béart. Loosely adapted from the 1831 short story '' Le Chef-d'œuvre inconnu'' (''The Unknown Masterpiece'') by H ...
'' (1991, Nominated
Césars best supporting actress). In 1985, she co-starred with
John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, (; 14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000) was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades. With Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, he was one of the trinity of actors who dominated the Briti ...
in ''
Leave All Fair
Leave All Fair is a 1985 New Zealand made film starring John Gielgud as John Middleton Murry the husband of Katherine Mansfield.
He is presented as a sanctimonious exploiter of her memory, who ill-treated her during their association. Jane Bir ...
'' (1985).
![Jane Birkin Cannes 2001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Jane_Birkin_Cannes_2001.jpg)
She appeared in
Merchant Ivory
A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...
's ''
A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries'' (1998) (which also used her song "Di Doo Dah") and in ''
Merci Docteur Rey'' (2002). The end title song for ''
Le Divorce
''Le Divorce'' is a 2003 romantic comedy-drama film directed by James Ivory from a screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and Ivory, based on the 1997 novel of the same name by Diane Johnson.
Plot
Isabel Walker travels to Paris to visit her siste ...
'' (2003) featured her singing "L'Anamour", composed by Gainsbourg. In 2006, she played
the title role in ''
Elektra'', directed by Philippe Calvario in France.
Birkin recorded the song "Beauty" on French producer
Hector Zazou
Hector Zazou (11 July 1948 – 8 September 2008) was a prolific French composer and record producer who worked with, produced, and collaborated with an international array of recording artists. He worked on his own and other artists' albums, inclu ...
's album ''Strong Currents'' (2003).
The cover art of ''
Have You Fed the Fish?
''Have You Fed the Fish?'' is an album released by Badly Drawn Boy (born Damon Gough) in 2002. The album's title originates from the question which Gough asks his daughter each day "to the point where it got to sound like one of those words you ...
'' (2002) by singer-songwriter
Badly Drawn Boy
Damon Michael Gough (born 2 October 1969), known by the stage name Badly Drawn Boy, is an English indie singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
Gough chose his stage name from a character in the show ''Sam and his Magic Ball'', which he saw ...
features her image and backing vocals by her daughter,
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (; born 21 July 1971) is a British-French actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress Jane Birkin and French musician Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the song " Lemo ...
.
In 2006 she recorded and released the album ''Fictions'',
and in 2010, recorded a duet with Brazilian singer
Sérgio Dias
Sérgio Dias Baptista (born December 1, 1950) is a Brazilian rock musician, composer and guitar player. Twice a Latin Grammy nominee, he is best known for his work with the band Os Mutantes and has been the only consistent member of the band, a ...
, which appeared on ''We Are the Lilies'', an album by Dias and French band Tahiti Boy and the Palmtree Family; the album also featured contributions from
Iggy Pop
James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter and actor. Called the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Godfather of Punk", he was the vocalist and lyricist of ...
and others.
![2017](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/2017.04.19._Jane_Birkin_Warsaw_Poland_Fot_Mariusz_Kubik.JPG)
In 2016, Birkin appeared in an ongoing campaign for
Yves Saint Laurent shot by
Hedi Slimane
Hedi Slimane (; born July 5, 1968) is a French photographer and grand couturier. From 2000 to 2007, he held the position of creative director for Dior Homme (the menswear line of Christian Dior S.A., Christian Dior). From 2012 to 2016, he was the ...
, which featured various female musicians, including
Marianne Faithfull
Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (born 29 December 1946) is an English singer and actress. She achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her hit single " As Tears Go By" and became one of the lead female artists during the British I ...
,
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love (née Harrison; born July 9, 1964) is an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actress. A figure in the alternative and grunge scenes of the 1990s, her career has spanned four decades. She rose to prominence as t ...
, and
Joni Mitchell
Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell ( Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian-American musician, producer, and painter. Among the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her sta ...
.
The same year, she had the lead role in ''
La femme et le TGV
''La femme et le TGV'' (English: ''The Railroad Lady'') is a 2016 Swiss French-language short film directed by Timo von Gunten. It received critical acclaim and was nominated for many industry awards including the Academy Award for Best Live Action ...
'', a short film directed by Swiss filmmaker
Timo von Gunten.
The film was nominated for an
Academy Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
for
Best Live Action Short Film
The Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film is an award presented at the annual Academy Awards ceremony. The award has existed, under various names, since 1957.
From 1936 until 1956 there were two separate awards, "Best Short Subject, One- ...
. In a 2017 interview, Birkin stated that ''La femme et le TGV'' would be her final acting performance, and that she had no plans to return to acting.
On 24 March 2017, Birkin released ''Birkin/Gainsbourg: Le Symphonique'', a collection of songs Gainsbourg had written for her during and after their relationship, reworked with full orchestral arrangements.
In September 2017, she performed live in
Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...
in support of the album.
Personal life
Birkin was married in 1965 to
John Barry, who composed the music for many
James Bond films
James Bond is a fictional character created by British novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. A British secret agent working for MI6 under the codename 007, Bond has been portrayed on film in twenty-seven productions by actors Sean Connery, David Nive ...
and numerous other movies. They met when Barry cast Birkin in his musical ''
Passion Flower Hotel
''Passion Flower Hotel'' (also known as ''Leidenschaftliche Blümchen'', also known as ''Boarding School'') is a 1978 coming of age comedy film directed by André Farwagi. It is a liberal adaptation of the 1962 novel '' Passion Flower Hotel'' an ...
.'' Their daughter, the photographer
Kate Barry, was born on 8 April 1967 and died on 11 December 2013. The marriage ended in 1968.
![Charlotte Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin 2010 b](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Charlotte_Gainsbourg_and_Jane_Birkin_2010_b.jpg)
She had a passionate and creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg, whom she met on the set of ''
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan, political slogan, political, Advertising slogan, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the publi ...
'' in 1968. They were together 12 years but never married, despite rumours and misreporting to the contrary. In 1971, they had a daughter, actress and singer
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Charlotte Lucy Gainsbourg (; born 21 July 1971) is a British-French actress and singer. She is the daughter of English actress Jane Birkin and French musician Serge Gainsbourg. After making her musical debut with her father on the song " Lemo ...
. They separated in 1980.
On 4 September 1982, she gave birth to her third daughter,
Lou Doillon
Lou Doillon (born 4 September 1982) is a French-English singer, actress and model.
Personal life
Doillon is the daughter of French writer/director Jacques Doillon and English actress/singer Jane Birkin. She has six brothers and sisters: Ka ...
, from her relationship with director Jacques Doillon. They separated in the 1990s. ''
The Observer
''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...
'' reported in 2007 that Doillon "could not compete with her grief for Gainsbourg" (who died in 1991), and that she had lived alone since their separation. Later, Birkin had a relationship with French writer
Olivier Rolin
Olivier Rolin (born 14 May 1947, in Boulogne-Billancourt) is a French writer.
He won the Prix Femina in 1994, for his novel ''Port-Soudan''.
His brother Jean
Jean may refer to:
People
* Jean (female given name)
* Jean (male given name)
* Jean ( ...
.
Her grandchildren are Roman de Kermadec (born 1987) from Kate Barry, Ben (born 1997), Alice (born 2002), and Jo (born 2011) from Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Marlowe (born 2002) from Lou Doillon.
Birkin has mainly resided in Paris since the late 1960s.
On 6 September 2021, it was reported that Birkin is doing well after having a stroke.
Philanthropy
Birkin's humanitarian interests have led her to work with
Amnesty International
Amnesty International (also referred to as Amnesty or AI) is an international non-governmental organization focused on human rights, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The organization says it has more than ten million members and sup ...
on immigrant welfare and the
AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...
epidemic. She has visited Bosnia, Rwanda, Israel and Palestine.
Awards and honours
In 2001, Birkin was awarded the
OBE. She has also been awarded the French
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite (; en, National Order of Merit) is a French order of merit with membership awarded by the President of the French Republic, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The reason for the order's esta ...
. She won the "Best Actress" award at the 1985 Orleans Film Festival for ''
Leave All Fair
Leave All Fair is a 1985 New Zealand made film starring John Gielgud as John Middleton Murry the husband of Katherine Mansfield.
He is presented as a sanctimonious exploiter of her memory, who ill-treated her during their association. Jane Bir ...
''. The jury of the 1985
Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival ( it, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival he ...
recognised Birkin's performance in ''Dust'' as amongst the best of the year, but decided not to award a best actress prize because all of the actresses they judged to have made the best performances were in films that won major awards. ''Dust'' won the
Silver Lion
The Silver Lion ( it, Leone d'argento, also known as Silver Lion for Best Direction) is an annual award presented for best directing achievements in a feature film at official competition section of the Venice Film Festival since 1998.
The pri ...
prize. In 2018, she received Japanese
Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight ...
.
In popular culture
Birkin basket
Birkin carried, a hand-woven
Castro Marim
Castro Marim () is a town and a municipality in the southern region of Algarve, in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 6,747, in an area of 300.84 km2.
The current Mayor is Francisco Amaral, elected by the Social Democratic Party.
The mun ...
,
Algarve
The Algarve (, , ; from ) is the southernmost NUTS II region of continental Portugal. It has an area of with 467,495 permanent inhabitants and incorporates 16 municipalities ( ''concelhos'' or ''municípios'' in Portuguese).
The region has it ...
,
Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...
, straw basket, everywhere, from the market, to nightclubs, to formal events, until Jacques Doillon's car intentionally ran over the basket.
Birkin bag
![Hermes Ostrich Birkin Bag](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Hermes_Ostrich_Birkin_Bag.jpg)
In 1983,
Hermès
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès ( , ), is a French luxury design house established in 1837. It specializes in leather goods, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear. Its logo, since ...
chief executive
Jean-Louis Dumas
Jean-Louis Robert Frédéric Dumas (2 February 1938 – 1 May 2010) was a French billionaire businessman who was the chairman of the Hermès group from 1978 to 2006. He was also the company's artistic director. Dumas is credited with turning Her ...
was seated next to Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. Birkin had just placed her straw basket in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell to the floor, leaving her to scramble to replace the contents. Birkin explained to Dumas that it had been difficult to find a leather weekend bag she liked. In 1984, he created a black supple leather bag for her: the
Birkin bag
The Birkin bag (or simply Birkin) is a kind of tote bag introduced in 1984 by the French luxury goods maker Hermès. Birkin bags are handmade from leather and are named after the English-French actress and singer Jane Birkin.
The bag quickly b ...
, based on a 1982 design. She used the bag initially, but later changed her mind because she was carrying too many things in it: "What's the use of having a second one?" she said laughingly. "You only need one and that busts your arm; they're bloody heavy. I'm going to have an operation for
tendonitis
Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder ( rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow ( tennis e ...
in the shoulder." Nonetheless, Birkin did use the bag for some time.
The Birkin bag has, over the years, become a
status symbol
A status symbol is a visible, external symbol of one's social position, an indicator of economic or social status. Many luxury goods are often considered status symbols. ''Status symbol'' is also a sociological term – as part of social and soci ...
, with prices ranging from US$10,000 to $500,000.
In 2015, Birkin wrote a public letter to Hermès requesting her name be removed from the bag,
stating she wanted the company to "debaptise the Birkin Croco until better practices in line with international norms can be put in place," referring to the cruel methods used to acquire the skins for the bags. Hermès announced soon afterwards that it had satisfied Birkin with new reassurances on this.
Discography
Studio albums
* ''
Je t'aime... moi non plus'' (1969, with
Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg (; born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a French musician, singer-songwriter, actor, author and filmmaker. Regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop, he was renowned for often provoca ...
)
* ''
Di doo dah
''Di doo dah'' is the debut solo album by Jane Birkin, released in 1973 on Fontana Records. Subsequent reissues in 2001 and 2010 (on Light In The Attic Records) included two bonus tracks from the 1972 7" single "La Décadanse" by Birkin and Se ...
'' (1973)
* ''
Lolita Go Home
''Lolita Go Home'' is an album by Jane Birkin, released in 1975. About half of the songs were written by Serge Gainsbourg (music) and Philippe Labro (words). The other half are old musical tunes. "Rien pour rien" uses the same melody as Serge G ...
'' (1975)
* ''
Ex fan des sixties
''Ex-fan des sixties'' is an album by Jane Birkin. The album was released in 1978. All songs on the album were written by Serge Gainsbourg and produced by Philippe Lerichomme. "Dépressive" was inspired by "Sonate n°8, opus 13" by Ludwig van Beet ...
'' (1978)
* ''
Baby Alone in Babylone
''Baby Alone in Babylone'' is an album by Jane Birkin. The album was released in 1983 and was the first collaboration between Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg since their split. Michelle de Rouville was credited for the photography.
Track listing
...
'' (1983)
* ''Lost Song'' (1987)
* ''
Amours des feintes'' (1990)
* ''Versions Jane'' (1996)
* ''À la légère'' (1999)
* ''Rendez-vous'' (2004)
* ''Fictions'' (2006)
* ''Enfants d'Hiver'' (2008)
* ''Birkin/Gainsbourg: Le symphonique'' (2017)
* ''Oh! Pardon tu dormais…'' (2020)
Live albums
* ''Jane Birkin au
Bataclan
Bataclan may refer to:
*'' Ba-ta-clan'', a 1855 operetta by Jacques Offenbach
* Bataclan (theatre), a theatre in Paris named after the operetta
**Bataclan theatre massacre, November 2015 Paris attacks
Music
*''Bataclan 1989'', by Maxime Le Fores ...
'' (1987)
* ''Integral au Casino de Paris'' (1992)
* ''Integral a l'Olympia'' (1996)
* ''Arabesque'' (2002)
* ''Au palace (live)'' (2009)
* ''Jane Birkin Sings Serge Gainsbourg via Japan'' (2012)
Filmography
Film
Television
See also
*
Birkin bag
The Birkin bag (or simply Birkin) is a kind of tote bag introduced in 1984 by the French luxury goods maker Hermès. Birkin bags are handmade from leather and are named after the English-French actress and singer Jane Birkin.
The bag quickly b ...
*
Serge Gainsbourg discography
References
External links
Official website(archived, 9 Feb 2019)
*
* Jane Birkin at
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
*
CNN interview with Jane Birkin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birkin, Jane
20th-century English actresses
21st-century English actresses
English expatriates in France
English film actresses
People from Marylebone
Actresses from London
English television actresses
French-language singers
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
1946 births
Living people
Serge Gainsbourg
English democracy activists
Knights of the Ordre national du Mérite
English women pop singers
Jane
Jane may refer to:
* Jane (given name), a feminine given name
* Jane (surname), related to the given name
Film and television
* ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd
* ''Jane'' (2016 film), a South Korean drama fil ...
English emigrants to France