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.
Les dessous chics
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
C'est ne rien dévoiler du tout
Se dire que lorsqu'on est à bout
C'est tabou
Les dessous chics
C'est une jarretelle qui claque
Dans la tête comme une paire de claques
Les dessous chics
Ce sont des contrats résiliés
Qui comme des bas résillés
Ont filé
Les dessous chics
C'est la pudeur des sentiments
Maquillés outrageusement
Rouge sang
Les dessous chics
C'est se garder au fond de soi
Fragile comme un bas de soie
Les dessous chics
C'est des dentelles et des rubans
D'amertume sur un paravent
Désolant
Les dessous chics
Ce serait comme un talon aiguille
Qui transpercerait le cœur des filles
Les dessous chics
Ce serait comme un talon aiguille
Qui transpercerait le cœur des filles
In Jane Birkin's song "Les dessous chics", she sings about the allure and taboo of wearing lingerie. The phrase "Les dessous chics" refers to the elegant and sophisticated undergarments that women wear to feel confident and sexy. However, Birkin suggests that these undergarments are more than just fabric and lace. They hold a deeper meaning and emotions that are kept hidden from view.
Birkin describes how wearing "Les dessous chics" allows women to keep their emotions and desires private, essentially hiding them underneath their clothing. She sings about the way a garter belt snaps against the skin, like a jolt of electricity or a reminder of the inner turmoil that can be hidden underneath the polished exterior. Birkin also references how feelings can be masked with makeup, using the metaphor of red lipstick to represent the "outrageously" painted over emotions.
Throughout the song, Birkin paints a picture of "Les dessous chics" as not just articles of clothing, but as a symbol of vulnerability and strength. By revealing her intimate thoughts and emotions, Birkin captures the complexity of lingerie and the feminine experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Les dessous chics
Secrets that are kept under wraps
C'est ne rien dévoiler du tout
Revealing nothing at all
Se dire que lorsqu'on est à bout
Thinking that when one is at the end of their rope
C'est tabou
It's taboo
C'est une jarretelle qui claque
It's a garter belt that snaps
Dans la tête comme une paire de claques
In the head like a slap in the face
Ce sont des contrats résiliés
It's canceled contracts
Qui comme des bas résillés
Like fishnet stockings
Ont filé
Have slipped away
C'est la pudeur des sentiments
It's the modesty of emotions
Maquillés outrageusement
Excessively made up
Rouge sang
Blood red
C'est se garder au fond de soi
It's keeping oneself deep within
Fragile comme un bas de soie
Fragile like a silk stocking
C'est des dentelles et des rubans
It's lace and ribbons
D'amertume sur un paravent
Of bitterness on a screen
Désolant
Depressing
Ce serait comme un talon aiguille
It would be like a high heel
Qui transpercerait le cœur des filles
That would pierce the hearts of girls
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Jean-Claude Vannier, Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind