Renowned singer and actress Jane Birkin, recognized for her exceptional talent and iconic status, has passed away at the age of 76, as reported by French media. The English-French star gained fame through her professional and personal association with the celebrated musician Serge Gainsbourg, captivating audiences as a style icon throughout the late 1960s and 1970s. While born in London, Birkin discovered her musical prowess while singing in French, leading her to relocate to France in the 1970s.
According to French media reports, Birkin was discovered deceased at her residence in Paris. It was her profound bond with Gainsbourg that propelled her to global fame after the release of their international hit “Je t’aime… moi non plus” in 1968, just months following their initial encounter on the set of the film “Slogan.”
Despite the song being banned on numerous radio stations and condemned by the Vatican due to its explicit lyrics, it introduced Birkin and Gainsbourg to a new international audience. The couple’s romantic liaison endured for 12 years, and even after their separation, they remained friends. Gainsbourg, who was 18 years Birkin’s senior, continued to pen songs for her in the subsequent years until his death in 1991. Together, they raised a daughter named Charlotte Gainsbourg, who has since become an acclaimed actress and singer.
Often described as a “tumultuous” relationship, Birkin reportedly documented instances of violence between herself and Gainsbourg in her 2020 diaries. However, she frequently defended the man she was so intimately associated with, even when faced with accusations of harassment by another musician in a 2020 interview with The Times. When asked about their unconventional lifestyle, Birkin candidly remarked, “I don’t know how easy it was for the children to have a mother who was naked in magazines and a father burning 500 franc notes. I hope one did some things right.”
Following their split in 1981, Birkin pursued her acting and singing career, releasing notable albums such as “Baby Alone in Babylone” in 1983 and “Amour des Feintes” in 1990. Prior to her relocation to France and her encounter with Gainsbourg, she had been married to the esteemed British composer John Barry until the late 1960s.
Tragically, Birkin experienced the loss of her daughter Kate Barry, a talented fashion photographer who worked with Vogue, in 2013 at the age of 46. Additionally, from her relationship with French film director Jacques Doillon in the 1980s, Birkin bore a third daughter named Lou Doillon, who has since established herself as a musician, model, and actress. Notable among Birkin’s acting credits are films like the 1966 classic “Blow Up,” “Death on the Nile” (1978), and “Evil Under the Sun” (1982). Furthermore, she showcased her musical prowess through her self-penned album “Arabesque” in 2002 and a collection of live recordings titled “Jane at the Palace” in 2009.
Birkin’s influence extended beyond the realms of acting and music. Her status as a model and fashion trendsetter was widely acknowledged, to the extent that she inspired the creation of the iconic Birkin handbag, a design brought to life by Hermes. Paying tribute to the esteemed artist, Menna Rawlings, the British ambassador to France, expressed her condolences on Twitter, praising Birkin as “the most French of British artists.” Similarly, French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot conveyed her sadness during an interview with the French TV station BFM, stating, “This departure is so sad. She was a beautiful person.” In September 2021, news emerged that Birkin had suffered a stroke, which unfortunately led to the cancellation of her planned appearance at an American film festival.