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.
L'amour de moi
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dedans un joli jardinet
Où croît la rose et le muguet
Et aussi fait la passerose
A la vie elle avait dit " Pause "
C'est ainsi qu'elle s'en est allée
Je l'ai retrouvée au détour d'une allée
Trois sentiments en moi s'opposent
Le chagrin en est le tout premier
En second viennent les remords et les regrets
Enfin l'amour dont elle dispose
J'aimerai lui dire tant de choses
Allongée près d'elle à ses côtés
Alors mes larmes seront perles de rosée
Pour arroser son laurier-rose
In the song "L'amour de moi" by Jane Birkin, the lyrics depict a deep sense of love and loss. The singer describes a beautiful garden where love is enclosed, represented by the imagery of roses, lilies, and passion flowers. The mention of the "passerose" suggests a fleeting love that has come and gone.
The song then takes a melancholic turn as it describes the departure of a loved one. It is implied that the person has passed away, as they are said to be resting forever in a hidden corner of the garden. The singer reminisces about the life shared with this person, expressing a mix of emotions.
Three conflicting feelings emerge within the singer. First is the overwhelming grief that fills their heart. Second come the feelings of remorse and regret, perhaps for things left unsaid or undone. And finally, there is the enduring love they still possess for the departed.
The singer longs to express their feelings to the person lying beside them. They imagine that their tears will transform into dewdrops, delicately watering the laurel-rose – a symbol of eternal love and remembrance.
Overall, "L'amour de moi" encapsulates the bittersweet journey of love and loss, showcasing the complexity of human emotions when faced with the departure of a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
L'amour de moi ci est enclose
My love is enclosed within me
Dedans un joli jardinet
Inside a beautiful little garden
Où croît la rose et le muguet
Where the rose and lily of the valley grow
Et aussi fait la passerose
And also the passionflower
A la vie elle avait dit 'Pause'
She had said 'Pause' to life
C'est ainsi qu'elle s'en est allée
That's how she left
Je l'ai retrouvée au détour d'une allée
I found her at the turn of a path
Où à jamais elle repose
Where she rests forever
Trois sentiments en moi s'opposent
Three feelings oppose each other within me
Le chagrin en est le tout premier
Grief is the first one
En second viennent les remords et les regrets
In second place come remorse and regrets
Enfin l'amour dont elle dispose
Finally, the love she possesses
J'aimerai lui dire tant de choses
I would like to tell her so many things
Allongée près d'elle à ses côtés
Lying next to her, by her side
Alors mes larmes seront perles de rosée
Then my tears will be dewdrops
Pour arroser son laurier-rose
To water her oleander
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAIN YVES REGINALD GORAGUER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind