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.
Manon
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Manon
Non tu ne sais sur'ment pas Manon
A quel point je hais
Ce que tu es
Sinon
Manon
Je t'aurais déjà perdue Manon
Perfide Manon
Il me faut t'aimer avec un autre
Je le sais Manon
Cruelle Manon
Manon
Manon
Non tu ne sauras jamais Manon
A quel point je hais
Ce que tu es
Au fond
Manon
Je dois avoir perdu la raison
Je t'aime Manon
The song "Manon" by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg is an emotional ballad about a toxic relationship between two lovers, with the singer addressing his partner, Manon. The singer of the song expresses hatred towards Manon and the traits that she embodies, possibly suggesting that she is cruel, perverse and perfidious. Despite these negative qualities, the singer admits that he is unable to let go of her and continues to love her, even though he knows that he ought to let go.
The song is a powerful commentary on the complexity of love and relationships. The singer is undeniably torn between his feelings of love and his deep-seated hatred towards Manon. Even though he recognizes that she is a harmful presence in his life, he cannot help but remain attached to her. The final line, "Je dois avoir perdu la raison / Je t'aime Manon" (I must have lost my mind / I love you, Manon), suggests that the singer is confused and struggling to make sense of his emotions. He has reached a point where love and hate become intertwined, making it difficult for him to make rational decisions.
Overall, "Manon" is a unique and thought-provoking song that delves into the complexities of human emotion. It explores the shades of grey that exist between love and hate and how difficult it can be to untangle one's feelings in a toxic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Manon
Repetition of the name
Manon
Repetition of the name
Non tu ne sais sur'ment pas Manon
You definitely don't know, Manon
A quel point je hais
How much I detest
Ce que tu es
What you are
Sinon
Otherwise
Manon
Repetition of the name
Je t'aurais déjà perdue Manon
I would have lost you already, Manon
Perverse Manon
Devious Manon
Perfide Manon
Treacherous Manon
Il me faut t'aimer avec un autre
I have to love you with someone else
Je le sais Manon
I know it, Manon
Cruelle Manon
Cruel Manon
Manon
Repetition of the name
Manon
Repetition of the name
Non tu ne sauras jamais Manon
You'll never know, Manon
A quel point je hais
How much I detest
Ce que tu es
What you are
Au fond
At the bottom
Manon
Repetition of the name
Je dois avoir perdu la raison
I must have lost my mind
Je t'aime Manon
I love you, Manon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SERGE GAINSBOURG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind