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.
Kawasaki
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je fonce d'autant que je fais partie d'un gang de banlieu c'est de viser BANG!
Une belle mécanique c'est deux kawazakis week end de tout mon coeur je l'applique.
Si un gars du gang la touche je luis flanque vite fait une paire de gifle BANG
Ma machine tangue dangereusement manque de chance un pneu éclate
y a BANG.
Sous ma mécanique, je suis prise de panique, je sens que ça tourne au tragique,
J'ai là sur la langue un gout d'risque et de sang et mon coeur qui fait BANG.
The lyrics to Jane Birkin's song Kawasaki describe a thrilling motorcycle ride where the singer is riding an orange Kawasaki at an incredible speed of 200 km/h. She mentions being part of a gang from the suburbs, aiming to hit their target with a bang. The singer takes pride in her bike, cherishing her weekends with it. It is made clear that if someone from her gang were to touch her motorcycle, they would face immediate retaliation.
The second half of the song portrays a more dangerous situation where the singer's bike hits a flat tire, causing her to lose control and almost crashing into electric poles. As the ride comes to an end, the singer is left with a sense of panic and a taste of risk and blood in her mouth, with her heart pounding in her chest.
Overall, the song Kawasaki portrays a rebellious attitude and a love for danger through the metaphor of motorcycle riding. The singer takes pride in her machine and her skills, but also acknowledges the very real risks of her lifestyle.
Line by Line Meaning
Sur ma mécanique orange l'aiquille indique 200 l'allure est fantastique
On my orange motorcycle, the needle indicates 200, the speed is fantastic.
Je fonce d'autant que je fais partie d'un gang de banlieu c'est de viser BANG!
I speed on because I am part of a suburban gang that aims for excitement!
Une belle mécanique c'est deux kawazakis week end de tout mon coeur je l'applique.
A beautiful machine is two Kawasakis for a weekend, and I devote my whole heart to it.
Si un gars du gang la touche je luis flanque vite fait une paire de gifle BANG
If a guy from the gang touches it, I'll give him a quick slap bang.
Réflexes mécaniques de justesse j'évite quelques pilones électriques.
Flawless mechanical reflexes allow me to avoid some electric poles.
Ma machine tangue dangereusement manque de chance un pneu éclate y a BANG.
My machine swerves dangerously, but luck isn't on my side because a tire explodes with a bang.
Sous ma mécanique, je suis prise de panique, je sens que ça tourne au tragique.
Underneath my machine, I'm caught in a panic, realizing the situation is turning tragic.
J'ai là sur la langue un gout d'risque et de sang et mon coeur qui fait BANG.
I have a taste of risk and blood in my mouth, while my heart beats bang.
Contributed by Christian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.