Birkin was born to David Birkin and Judy Campbell, an actress in Noel Coward musicals. Her great aunt was Freda Dudley Ward, a mistress of Edward VIII while he was Prince of Wales.
Birkin emerged in the swinging '60s in London, starring as one of the models in the controversial film Blowup in 1966.
In 1968, Birkin went to France to audition for the lead female role in Slogan. Though she did not speak French, she got the role.
In 1969, she and Serge Gainsbourg released the song "Je t'aime... moi non plus" ("I love you... me neither"), written by Gainsbourg and featuring both of them singing, which caused a scandal for its sexual explicitness. Arguably due in part to the publicity it got from being banned by radio stations in Italy, Sweden, Spain, and the UK, it was a commercial success all over Europe. The song's fame is a result of its salacious lyrics (sung in French) against a background of female moaning and groaning, culminating in an orgasm at the song's conclusion (which some claim to be the result of Jane and Serge actually engaging in sex during the recording of the song).
Birkin took a short break from her acting career in 1971-72, but returned as Brigitte Bardot's lover in Don Juan (or if Don Juan were a woman) in 1973.
In 1975, she appeared in Gainsbourg's first film, also titled Je t'aime... moi non plus, which created quite a stir for its frank examination of sexual ambiguity. For this performance she was nominated for a Best Actress César Award.
Birkin has starred in the Agatha Christie films Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun, and recorded several albums, including Baby Alone in Babylone, Amours des Feintes, Lolita Go Home and Rendez-vous. She has obtained in the category Female Artist of the year in France the Victoires de la Musique award in 1992 .
She starred in two films 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 US).
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 Serge Gainsbourg.
In 2006, she played Elektra, directed by Philippe Calvario in France.
Jane Birkin's humanitarian interests led her to work with Amnesty International, on immigrant welfare and AIDS issues. Birkin has also visited Bosnia, Rwanda. and Palestinian Territories, often working with children. She has been awarded an OBE for her services to acting, as well as the Ordre National du Mérite in France.
She made musical collaborations and duets 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, Yann Tiersen, Alain Souchon, Les Negresses Vertes, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, Zazie, MC Solaar, Yosui Inoue, Étienne Daho, Alain Chamfort, Jimmy Rowles, Goran Bregović, Sonny Landreth, The Soundtrack of Our Lives and many others.
Birkin recorded the song "Beauty" on French producer Hector Zazou's 2003 album Strong Currents.
She is noted as being the inspiration for fashion house Hermès' popular Birkin Bag after the actress was seen struggling with several bags while boarding an aeroplane.
Her image features on the cover art of Have You Fed the Fish? by singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy (which features her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg on backing vocals).
Despite decades of residence in France and the ability to speak French fluently, Birkin still retains a strong English accent and makes grammatical mistakes when speaking French.
Personal Life :
She 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 1968.
Muse of Gainsbourg :
She had a very passionate and creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg — they met on the set of Slogan and married in 1968. 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.
Comédie
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On s'aime et c'est difficile
On s'attache avec des fils
Des serments d'amour inutilement
On s'aime et c'est tellement dur
On s'crie dessus, on s'griffe la figure
On se regarde toujours si durement
Dis-moi que tu les abandonnes
Ces baisers, ces tourments
Donnés par les autres personnes
Avant
J'en ai, des mots d'amour
Qui sonnent mais maladivement
Cachés comme chez les autres hommes
Dedans
On s'aime et la vie veut qu'on joue
Des rôles qui nous coulent sur les joues
Comme deux capricieux, capricieusement
Jaloux de la pluie qui touche tes cheveux
Jalouse des choses que voient tes yeux
On se regarde toujours jalousement
Dis-moi que tu les abandonnes
Ces baisers, ces tourments
Donnés par les autres personnes
Avant
J'en ai, des mots d'amour
Qui sonnent mais maladivement
Cachés comme chez les autres hommes
Dedans
Un jour, on va partir dans l'air
Et la vie sera
Passée tout contre toi
J'espère
In Jane Birkin's song "Comédie," she sings about the complexities and difficulties of love. The lyrics portray a tumultuous relationship where two people struggle to hold on to their love. They attach themselves to each other with fragile threads, making empty promises of love. Despite their deep affection for each other, their love is challenging and they often find themselves yelling at each other, scratching each other's faces, and looking at each other with harshness.
The singer pleads with her partner to abandon the kisses and torment given to them by others before. She reveals that she has her own words of love, but they sound sickly and are hidden within, just like in other men. The song highlights the constant dance they perform in their relationship, playing roles that trickle down their cheeks like spoiled children. The singer expresses their jealousy towards the rain that touches their partner's hair and the things their partner sees.
However, despite the difficulties, the singer yearns for a future where they can escape together and the passing of time will bring them closer. The song ends with a hopeful declaration that they hope life will pass by next to their partner.
Overall, "Comédie" explores the complexities of love, the struggles and challenges faced in a relationship, and the longing for a deeper connection.
Line by Line Meaning
On s'aime et c'est difficile
We love each other and it's challenging
On s'attache avec des fils
We attach ourselves with threads
Des serments d'amour inutilement
Uselessly making love promises
On s'aime et c'est tellement dur
We love each other and it's so tough
On s'crie dessus, on s'griffe la figure
We shout at each other, we scratch each other's faces
On se regarde toujours si durement
We always look at each other so harshly
Dis-moi que tu les abandonnes
Tell me that you abandon them
Ces baisers, ces tourments
These kisses, these torments
Donnés par les autres personnes
Given by other people
Avant
Before
J'en ai, des mots d'amour
I have words of love
Qui sonnent mais maladivement
That sound but in a sickly way
Cachés comme chez les autres hommes
Hidden like in other men
Dedans
Inside
On s'aime et la vie veut qu'on joue
We love each other and life wants us to play
Des rôles qui nous coulent sur les joues
Roles that trickle down our cheeks
Comme deux capricieux, capricieusement
Like two spoiled, capricious ones
Jaloux de la pluie qui touche tes cheveux
Jealous of the rain touching your hair
Jalouse des choses que voient tes yeux
Jealous of the things your eyes see
On se regarde toujours jalousement
We always look at each other jealously
Un jour, on va partir dans l'air
One day, we'll fly away
Et la vie sera
And life will be
Passée tout contre toi
Spent close to you
J'espère
I hope
Lyrics © LES EDITIONS ALAIN SOUCHON
Written by: Alain Souchon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind