Jane Birkin was an English-French singer and actress who died on 16 July 2023 at her home in Paris¹. She was born on 14 December 1946 in London, to an actress mother and a naval officer father²³. She began her career as an actress in the 1960s, appearing in films such as Blow-Up (1966) and Kaleidoscope (1966)³. She married the composer John Barry in 1965, with whom she had a daughter, Kate, but they divorced in 1968.
In 1968, she met Serge Gainsbourg, a French singer-songwriter, on the set of a film called Slogan. They started a musical and romantic partnership that lasted for more than a decade and made them one of the most famous couples in France¹². They recorded several albums together, including Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg (1969), which featured the controversial hit Je t’aime … moi non plus. They also starred in films such as Je t’aime moi non plus (1976), directed by Gainsbourg. They had a daughter, Charlotte, who also became a successful actress and singer.
Birkin and Gainsbourg separated in 1980, but remained friends until his death in 1991². Birkin continued to work as both an actress and a singer, collaborating with other artists such as Jacques Doillon, with whom she had another daughter, Lou²³. She appeared in films such as Death on the Nile (1978), Evil Under the Sun (1982), A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries (1998), and La femme et le TGV (2016), which was her last film role²³. She also recorded solo albums such as Baby Alone in Babylone (1983), Rendez-vous (2004), and Oh! Pardon tu dormais … (2020)
Birkin was also known for her style and influence on fashion. She inspired the creation of the Hermès Birkin handbag, which was named after her by the designer Jean-Louis Dumas²⁴. She was awarded the OBE in 2001 for her services to Anglo-French cultural relations.
Jane Birkin influenced fashion with her relaxed, natural, and classic style, which inspired many designers and trends. She was known for her signature items, such as the white t-shirt, the jeans, the basket bag, and the Hermès Birkin handbag¹². She also experimented with different looks, such as lace crop tops, tracksuits, button-down shirts, and flared trousers². She was a muse for many designers, such as Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, and Jean-Louis Dumas¹². She was awarded the OBE in 2001 for her services to Anglo-French cultural relations.
Jane Birkin had a prolific career as an actress and a singer, mostly in French cinema and music. She started her career in the 1960s, appearing in films such as Blow-Up (1966) and Kaleidoscope (1966)¹. She met Serge Gainsbourg in 1968, and they formed a musical and romantic partnership that lasted for more than a decade. They recorded several albums together, such as Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg (1969), which featured the controversial hit Je t’aime … moi non plus. They also starred in films such as Je t’aime moi non plus (1976), directed by Gainsbourg.
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. She appeared in films such as Death on the Nile (1978), Evil Under the Sun (1982), A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries (1998), and La femme et le TGV (2016), which was her last film role¹². She also recorded solo albums such as Baby Alone in Babylone (1983), Rendez-vous (2004), and Oh! Pardon tu dormais … (2020).
Birkin was also a muse for many designers, such as Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, and Jean-Louis Dumas. She inspired the creation of the Hermès Birkin handbag, which was named after her by Dumas²³. She was awarded the OBE in 2001 for her services to Anglo-French cultural relations.
Jane Birkin won several awards for her acting and singing, both in France and internationally. Some of her awards include:
– The **Golden Ciak** for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival in 1985 for her role in Dust¹.
– The **Leopard Career Award** at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2016 for her contribution to cinema¹.
– The **Sophia Loren Award** for Best Supporting Actress at the Chicago International Arthouse Film Fest in 2017 for her role in Whoever Was Using This Bed¹.
– The **Festival Award** for Best Ensemble at the Stockholm Independent Film Festival in 2019 for her role in Whoever Was Using This Bed¹.
– The **Order of the British Empire** (OBE) in 2001 for her services to Anglo-French cultural relations².
She was also nominated for several César Awards, the most prestigious film awards in France, for her roles in La Belle Noiseuse (1991), La femme de ma vie (1986), and La pirate (1984)¹.
Jane Birkin won several awards for her acting and singing, both in France and internationally. Some of her awards include:
– The **Golden Ciak** for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival in 1985 for her role in Dust¹.
– The **Leopard Career Award** at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2016 for her contribution to cinema¹.
– The **Sophia Loren Award** for Best Supporting Actress at the Chicago International Arthouse Film Fest in 2017 for her role in Whoever Was Using This Bed.
– The **Festival Award** for Best Ensemble at the Stockholm Independent Film Festival in 2019 for her role in Whoever Was Using This Bed.
– The **Order of the British Empire** (OBE) in 2001 for her services to Anglo-French cultural relations².
She was also nominated for several César Awards, the most prestigious film awards in France, for her roles in La Belle Noiseuse (1991), La femme de ma vie (1986), and La pirate (1984).
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