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.
My Secret
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mon Secret
C'est vrai
Je ne peux pas me cacher
La seule chose dont j'ai besoin… c'est toi
Il n'est plus de véritéâ ¦ que je puisse trouver
Mais oh mon amour, mon cœur ne se brisera point
Mais oh mon dieu comme il a souffert
Et maintenant mon amour, Je sais que je ne peux pas
Éviter (de ressentir) la perte de ton étreinte
C'est toi
Que je sens
Toujours… je te veux
Et mes pensées… sont si irréelles
Avec quelqu'un d'autre que toi
Mais oh mon amour, mon cœur ne se brisera point
Mais oh mon dieu comme il a souffert
Et maintenant mon amour, Je sais que je ne peux pas
Éviter (de ressentir) la perte de ton étreinte
Je peux essayer, d'expliquer
Mais ma vie sans toi…
N'est tout simplement pas la même
Mais oh mon amour, mon cœur ne se brisera point
Mais oh mon dieu comme il a souffert
Et maintenant mon amour, Je sais que je ne peux pas
Éviter (de ressentir) la perte de ton étreinte
"My Secret" is a song by Jane Birkin, and it appears that the lyrics discuss a deep desire for someone - a secret love. The singer is aware that they can't hide this love from the person they desire, and they express that they need that person more than anything else. There is no other truth for them except the feeling they get from being with this person. However, the singer seems to be aware that this love may not last, and that they may eventually lose the person they desire. They express a hope that their heart will not be broken, even though it has suffered before.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the importance of this person in their life. They admit that their thoughts are unrealistic without the person they desire, and that their life is simply not the same without them. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to do anything to keep this love alive, but at the same time they understand that they may not be able to control the outcome.
Overall, the song seems to express a sadness and apprehension, but also a deep love and devotion to someone that is felt despite the potential for pain. It suggests that love is worth experiencing, even if it means risking heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est vrai
It's true
Je ne peux pas me cacher
I can't hide
La seule chose dont j'ai besoin… c'est toi
The only thing I need is you
Il n'est plus de vérité que je puisse trouver
There's no truth I can find
Avec quelqu'un d'autre que toi
With anyone else but you
Mais oh mon amour, mon cœur ne se brisera point
But oh my love, my heart won't break
Mais oh mon dieu comme il a souffert
But oh my god how it has suffered
Et maintenant mon amour, Je sais que je ne peux pas Éviter (de ressentir) la perte de ton étreinte
And now my love, I know I can't avoid feeling the loss of your embrace
Que je sens
That I feel
Toujours… je te veux
Always... I want you
Et mes pensées… sont si irréelles
And my thoughts... are so unreal
Je peux essayer, d'expliquer
I can try to explain
Mais ma vie sans toi… N'est tout simplement pas la même
But my life without you... isn't just the same
Writer(s): Beth Gibbons
Contributed by Skyler W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.