Jane Birkin was a British-French singer and actress. She attained international fame and notability for her decade-long musical and romantic partnership with Serge Gainsbourg.
She also had a prolific career as an actress, mostly in French cinema.
A native of London, Birkin began her career as an actress, appearing in minor roles in Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blowup (1966), and Kaleidoscope (1966).
In 1968, she met Serge Gainsbourg while co-starring with him in Slogan, which marked the beginning of a years-long working and personal relationship.
The duo released their debut album Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg (1969), and Birkin also appeared in the controversial film Je t’aime moi non plus (1976) under Gainsbourg’s direction.
Though she mostly worked in France where she had become a major star, Birkin occasionnally appeared in English-language films such as the Agatha Christie adaptations Death on the Nile (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 and in the American drama film A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries, in 1998. In 2016, she starred in the Academy Award-nominated short film La femme et le TGV, which she said would be her final film role.
Birkin lived mainly in France from the 1970s on. She was the mother of photographer Kate Barry, with her first husband John Barry; actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, with Serge Gainsbourg; and musician Lou Doillon, with Jacques Doillon.
In addition to her acting and musical credits, she lent her name to the Hermès Birkin handbag.
Who was Jane Birkin?
Jane Mallory Birkin was born on 14 December 1946, in Marylebone, London. Her mother, Judy Campbell, was an English actress, best known for her work on stage.
Her father, David Birkin, was a Royal Navy lieutenant commander and World War II spy. Her brother is screenwriter and director Andrew Birkin.
Theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter was her niece. Birkin was raised in Chelsea, and described herself as a “shy English girl”. She said that she was bullied for her looks; “I suffered a lot because of my physique, especially at boarding school. The others said I was half boy, half girl. I had no breasts, not even a developing bosom. It was horrible.”
Birkin attended Miss Ironside’s School in Kensington. She was also educated at Upper Chine School, Isle of Wight. At the age of 17, she met composer John Barry, whom she married in 1965, and had her first daughter, Kate, in 1967.
After Barry left for the United States, the couple divorced in 1968 and Birkin returned to live with her family in London. Birkin began auditioning for film and television roles in England and in Los Angeles.
Jane Birkin death
Jane Birkin was found dead at her home in Paris on Sunday, July 16, 2023 . She was 76 years old.
Jane Birkin cause of death
The beloved actress’ cause of death is not yet known but, according to ABC News, the actress has been plagued with health issues in recent years — including a stroke in 2021 and a broken shoulder blade earlier this year — which have kept her from performing and appearing publicly.
French president Emmanuel Macron lauded the actress in a tribute on Twitter following her death, writing, “Because she embodied freedom, because she sang the most beautiful words of our language, Jane Birkin was a French icon.”
Parce qu’elle incarnait la liberté, qu’elle chantait les plus beaux mots de notre langue, Jane Birkin était une icône française.
Artiste complète, sa voix était aussi douce que ses engagements étaient ardents.
Elle nous lègue des airs et des images qui ne nous quitteront pas. pic.twitter.com/Ad27ngF54R
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 16, 2023
He continued, “A complete artist, her voice was as sweet as her engagements were fiery. She bequeaths us tunes and images that will never leave us.”
Our heartfelt condolences go to her loved ones. May God let the departed soul rest in peace.
THANK YOU for constantly reading stories on AtinkaNews. You are free to share this story via the various social media platforms . Kindly follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
