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.
Le Moi et le Je
Jane Birkin Lyrics
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Si je balance entre l'émoi et le jeu
C'est que mon propre équilibre mental en est l'enjeu
J'ignore tout des règles de je
Jeu cruel et tendre à la fois entre le moi et le je
On se perd de vue tout est remis en jeu
Dans la froideur de la nuit je me demande où suis-je
Jeu de l'amour du hasard éprise de vertiges
Ayant conscience que c'est un jeu dange
Reux tu abuses du je alors je cache mon jeu
Sans pour autant gagner sur toi moi
Si j'hésite si souvent entre le moi et le je
Si je balance entre l'émoi et le jeu
C'est que mon propre équilibre mental en est l'enjeu
J'ignore tout des règles de ce jeu
Jeu de l'amour du hasard épris de vertiges
Ayant conscience que c'est un jeu dange
Reux tu abuses du je alors je cache mon jeu
Sans pour autant gagner sur toi moi je
The lyrics of Jane Birkin's song Le Moi et le Je revolve around the idea of balance and the struggle to maintain one's equilibrium. The song explores the tension between the individual's sense of self or "moi" and their social identity, or "je". The first verse speaks of the conflict between the two, with the singer frequently hesitating between the two poles. The use of "émoi" (emotion) and "jeu" (game) highlights the idea of the fine line between vulnerability and playfulness in interactions with others.
The second verse delves deeper into the intricacy of human relationships and the way they challenge one's sense of self. In the midst of the game, the singer seems to lose sight of their own identity, questioning where they stand. The use of "froideur" (coldness) of the night creates an eerie impression, a feeling of uncertainty in this risky game of love. The singer is drawn to the thrills of the uncertain, but also aware of the dangers of putting too much into the "je" side of the equation, which can lead to the loss of one's own agency.
Ultimately, the song seems to point to the complexity of the human psyche and the constant balancing act that is necessary to maintain a healthy sense of self in relationships. The use of the metaphor of the game highlights the playful and adventurous side of love, but also underlines its challenges, and the risks associated with losing sight of oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Si j'hésite si souvent entre le moi et le je
If I frequently hesitate between myself and the self
Si je balance entre l'émoi et le jeu
If I waver between emotion and play
C'est que mon propre équilibre mental en est l'enjeu
It is because my own mental balance is at stake
J'ignore tout des règles de je
I know nothing of the rules of the self
Jeu cruel et tendre à la fois entre le moi et le je
A cruel and tender game between myself and the self
On se perd de vue tout est remis en jeu
We lose sight of each other, everything is back in play
Dans la froideur de la nuit je me demande où suis-je
In the coldness of night, I wonder where I am
Tu me prends je me laisse prendre au
You take me, I let myself be taken
Jeu de l'amour du hasard éprise de vertiges
Game of love and chance enamored with vertigo
Ayant conscience que c'est un jeu dangereux
Aware that it is a dangerous game
Reux tu abuses du je alors je cache mon jeu
You abuse the self so I hide my game
Sans pour autant gagner sur toi moi
Without winning over you or myself
Si j'hésite si souvent entre le moi et le je
If I frequently hesitate between myself and the self
Si je balance entre l'émoi et le jeu
If I waver between emotion and play
C'est que mon propre équilibre mental en est l'enjeu
It is because my own mental balance is at stake
J'ignore tout des règles de ce jeu
I know nothing of the rules of this game
Contributed by Elliot J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.