Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin in 1985
Born	Jane Mallory Birkin 14 December 1946 (1946-12-14) (age 62) London, England
Spouse(s)	John Barry (1965-68) Serge Gainsbourg (1969-1980) Jacques Doillon (1981-1993)
Official website

Jane Mallory Birkin OBE (born 14 December 1946)¹ is an English actress, model, singer and film director who lives in France.

Birkin was born in London to David Birkin, a Royal Navy lieutenant-commander and World War II espionage operative, and Judy Campbell, an actress in Noel Coward musicals. Birkin's brother is the screenwriter/director Andrew Birkin. Her father's first cousin was Freda Dudley Ward, a mistress of Edward VIII while he was Prince of Wales.¹

Career

Birkin emerged in the Swinging London scene of the 1960s, appearing as one of the models in the 1966 film Blowup.² In 1968, Birkin auditioned in France for the lead female role in Slogan. Though she did not speak French, she won the role. She co-starred with Serge Gainsbourg, and duetted with him on the film's theme song — the first of many collaborations between the two.

In 1969, she and Gainsbourg released the duet "Je t'aime... moi non plus" ("I love you... me neither"). Gainsbourg originally wrote the song for Brigitte Bardot. The song caused a scandal for its sexual explicitness, and was banned by radio stations in Italy, Spain, and the UK. The song's fame is a result of its salacious lyrics (sung in French) against a background of Birkin's moaning and groaning, culminating in an orgasm at the song's conclusion. Birkin also appeared on Gainsbourg's 1971 album Histoire de Melody Nelson, portraying the Lolita-like protagonist in song and on the cover.³

Birkin took a break from acting in 1971-72, but returned as Brigitte Bardot's lover in Don Juan (Or If Don Juan Were a Woman) in 1973.¹ 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. For this performance she was nominated for a Best Actress César Award.¹

Birkin starred in the Agatha Christie films Death on the Nile (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.¹

She starred in two films directed by Jacques Doillon — as Anne in La fille prodigue (1981) and as Alma in La pirate (1984, nominated for a César Award). This work led to an invitation from Patrice Chéreau to star on stage in La Fausse suivante by Marivaux at Nanterre. After this, she also began to appear frequently on stage in plays and concerts (in France, Japan, the UK and then the U.S).

In 1980 she worked with director Herbert Vesely on Egon Schiele Exzess und Bestrafung, appearing as the mistress of Austrian artist Egon Schiele, played by Mathieu Carrière.

Jacques Rivette collaborated with her for Love on the Ground (1983) and La Belle Noiseuse (1991, Nominated Césars best supporting actress). Additionally, she appeared in Merchant Ivory's A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998, also used her song "Di Doo Dah") and Merci Docteur Rey (2002), while Le Divorce's end title song featured her singing "L'Anamour", composed by Gainsbourg.¹

In 2006, she played the title role in Elektra, directed by Philippe Calvario in France.¹

Birkin's humanitarian interests led her to work with Amnesty International on immigrant welfare and AIDS issues. Birkin has also visited Bosnia, Rwanda and Palestine, often working with children. In 2001, she was awarded the OBE. She has also been awarded the French Ordre National du Mérite.

She has collaborated with artists such as Feist, Beth Gibbons from Portishead, Bryan Ferry, Brian Molko from Placebo, Franz Ferdinand, Manu Chao, Brett Anderson from Suede, Mickey 3D, Françoise Hardy, Cali, The Divine Comedy, The Magic Numbers, Paolo Conte, Beck, Rufus Wainwright, Benjamin Biolay, Keren Ann, Yann Tiersen, Alain Souchon, Les Negresses Vertes, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, Zazie, MC Solaar, Miossec, YÅ�sui Inoue, Étienne Daho, Alain Chamfort, Jimmy Rowles, Goran Bregović, Sonny Landreth, The Soundtrack of Our Lives and many others.¹

Birkin recorded the song "Beauty" on French producer Hector Zazou's 2003 album Strong Currents.¹

The cover art of Have You Fed the Fish? by singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy, (which features her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg on backing vocals), features her image.

Birkin bag

Hermès named and designed a handbag — the Birkin bag — for her in 1984 in 1981 after the company's chairman saw her struggling with several bags while boarding an airplane. Although one of their most expensive, the Birkin bag has become one of Hermès' most popular handbags.

Personal life

Birkin was married from 1965 until 1968 to John Barry, an English composer who wrote the musical score to the James Bond movies. Their daughter, the photographer Kate Barry, was born in 1967.

She had a passionate and creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg — they met on the set of Slogan. They separated in 1980. Their daughter is actress Charlotte Gainsbourg.

In 1982 she gave birth to her third daughter, Lou Doillon, from her relationship with the director Jacques Doillon.

Discography

• 1969 - Je t'aime... moi non plus with Serge Gainsbourg
• 1971 - appears on Histoire de Melody Nelson (Serge Gainsbourg)
• 1973 - Di doo dah
• 1975 - Lolita go home
• 1977 - Yesterday yes a day
• 1978 - Ex fan des sixties
• 1983 - Fuir le bonheur de peur qu'il ne se sauve
• 1983 - Baby alone in Babylone
• 1985 - Quoi
• 1987 - Lost song
• 1987 - Jane Birkin au Bataclan (recorded at the Bataclan)
• 1990 - Amours des feintes
• 1992 - Integral au Casino de Paris
• 1996 - Versions Jane
• 1996 - Integral a l'Olympia
• 1998 - Best Of
• 1999 - A la legere
• 2002 - Arabesque
• 2004 - Rendez-Vous
• 2006 - Fictions
• 2008 - Enfants d'Hiver

Filmography

• The Knack...and How to Get It (1965) - Girl on Motorbike (uncredited)
• Blow Up (1966) - The Blonde
• Kaleidoscope (1966) - Exquisite Thing
• Wonderwall (1968) - Penny Lane
• Slogan (1969) - Évelyne
• The Pleasure Pit (1969) - Jane
• The Swimming Pool (1969) - Penelope
• Trop petit mon ami (1970) - Christine Mars / Christine Devone
• Sex Power (1970) - Jane
• Alba pagana (1970) - Flora
• The Mafia Wants Your Blood (1970) - Jane Swenson
• 19 djevojaka i Mornar (1971) - Milja
• Romance of a Horsethief (1971) - Naomi
• Trop jolies pour être honnêtes (1972) - Christine
• Dark Places (1973) - Alta
• Don Juan, ou Si Don Juan était une femme... (1973) - Clara
• Seven Dead in the Cat's Eye (1973) - Corringa
• Projection privée (1973) - Kate/Hélène
• Le Mouton enragé (1974) - Marie-Paule
• Comment réussir quand on est con et pleurnichard (1974) - Jane
• Lucky Pierre (1974) - Jackie Logan
• Serious as Pleasure (1975) - Ariane Berg
• La Course à l'échalote (1975) - Janet
• Catherine & Co. (1975) - Catherine
• Bestial Quartet (1975) - Jane Berg
• Burnt by a Scalding Passion (1976) - Virginia Vismara
• Je t'aime moi non plus (1976) - Johnny Jane
• The Devil in the Heart (1976) - Linda
• Madame Claude (1977) - singer (theme song "Yesterday Yes a Day")
• L'Animal (1977) - La vedette féminine
• Good-bye, Emmanuelle (1977) - as Singer (theme song)
• Death on the Nile (1978) - Louise Bourget
• Au bout du bout du banc (1979) - Peggy
• Melancholy Baby (1979) - Olga
• La miel (1979) - Inés
• Egon Schiele Exzess und Bestrafung (1980) - Wally
• The Prodigal Daughter (1981, by Jacques Doillon) - Anne
• Rends-moi la clé ! (1981) - Catherine
• Evil Under the Sun (1982) - Christine Redfern
• Nestor Burma, Détective de choc (1982) - Hélène Chatelain
• Circulez, y'a rien à voir ! (1983, by Patrice Leconte) - Hélène Duvernet
• L'Ami de Vincent (1983) - Marie-Pierre
• Le Garde du corps (1984) - Barbara Penning
• La Pirate (1984, by Jacques Doillon) - Alma
• Love on the Ground (1984, by Jacques Rivette) - Emily
• Leave All Fair (1985) - Katherine Mansfield
• Dust (1985) - Magda
• Beethoven's Nephew (1985) - Johanna
• La Femme de ma vie (1986) - Laura
• Kung-Fu master (1987, by Agnès Varda) - Mary-Jane
• Jane B. par Agnès V. (1988, by Agnès Varda) - Calamity Jane / Claude Jade / Jeanne d'Arc
• Soigne ta droite (1987) - La cigale
• Comédie ! (1987, by Jacques Doillon) - Elle / also singer (theme song)
• Daddy Nostalgie (1990) - Caroline / also singer (end title "These Foolish Things")
• Contre l'oubli (1991, segment "Pour Maria Nonna Santa Clara, Philippine") - Director and narrator
• La Belle Noiseuse (1991) - Liz
• La Belle Noiseuse: Divertimento (1991) - Liz
• Oh pardon ! Tu dormais... (1992, TV) - as Director and writer
• 3000 scénarios contre un virus (1994) - as Director (segment "Je t'aime, moi non plus")
• Les cent et une nuits (1995) - Celle qui dit radin
• Black for Remembrance (1995) - Caroline
• Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (1995) - The Woman (voice)
• On connaît la chanson (1997) - Jane (she sang her song "Quoi")
• A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998) - Mrs. Fortescue
• The Last September (1999) - Francie Montmorency
• This Is My Body (2001) - Louise Vernet
• A Hell of a Day (2001) - Jane
• Merci Docteur Rey (2002) - Pénélope
• The Very Merry Widows (2003) - Renée
• Le Divorce (2003) - singer (end title "L'Anamour")
• L'ex-femme de ma vie (2004) - singer (theme song "Parlez-moi d'amour")
• La tête de maman (2007)
• Boxes (2007)

References

External links

• Jane Birkin's Official site www.janebirkin.net
• Jane Birkin's Film "BOXES" www.boxes-lefilm.fr
• Yahoo Movies Bio
• Jane Birkin at the Internet Movie Database
• Jane Birkin at Allmusic
• Jane Birkin at Allmovie
• A Tribute to Gainsbourg, zoom sur Jane Birkin
• Jane Birkin interview in madison Magazine
• Jane Birkin biography
• CNN interview with Jane Birkin
• Jane Birkin speaks with Flyglobalmusic.com and introduces songs from Enfants d'Hiver
• "Sweet Sixties" - "Slogan"-Review
• Jane Birkin, thepeerage.com
• Fashion Photo Gallery

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia