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.
Norma Jean Baker
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One two three o five
Norma Jean Baker
Fifth Helena drive
Qui sait maintenant où elle est
Peut-être plus à L.A.
Norma Jean Baker
Norma Jean Baker
Cinquante nembutal
D'après le rapport de l'attorney
Chef du district d' L.A.
Norma Jean Baker
Quelque chose est à-
Normal Jean Baker
Téléphonne à main droite
Norma Jean Baker
Il est possible qu'elle ait
Voulu appeler L.A.
Norma Jean Baker
Cinq août soixante-deux
Norma Jean Baker
Trois heures quarante-deux
Norma Jean Baker
On l'emmène sans délai
A la morgue d' L.A.
Norma Jean Baker
Plus belle que la Divine
Norma Jean Baker
Monroe Marilyn
Norma Jean Baker
Qui sait maintenant où elle est
Peut-être plus à L.A.
Norma Jean Baker
In this song, Jane Birkin delves into the tragic life of Norma Jean Baker, who is better known as Marilyn Monroe. The song is a recounting of the details of her life, from her birth name to her troubled relationships and untimely death.
The first verse mentions her birth name and the address of the house she lived in, the latter of which has become a historical landmark. In the second verse, she describes Marilyn lying naked diagonally, surrounded by fifty Nembutal pills. Nembutal is a barbiturate commonly used as a sleeping pill, and Marilyn Monroe famously died from an overdose of it. The third verse references her attempted phone call, which was made with her right hand, presumably because she was left-handed.
The fourth verse describes her death in detail, including the date and time of her death, and how her body was taken to the morgue without delay. The final verse compares her beauty to that of the divine and invokes her stage name, Marilyn Monroe.
Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of the trials and tribulations of Marilyn Monroe’s life, and highlights how even someone with such immense beauty and fame can still experience so much pain, sadness and tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
Norma Jean Baker
The subject of the song, also known as Marilyn Monroe.
One two three o five
Referring to Monroe's address at Fifth Helena drive in Beverly Hills.
Qui sait maintenant où elle est / Peut-être plus à L.A.
Who knows where she is now, maybe not in LA anymore. Reflecting Monroe's transient and mysterious nature.
Nue en diagonale
Describing Monroe in one of her famous photo shoots, posing diagonally naked.
Cinquante nembutal / D'après le rapport de l'attorney / Chef du district d' L.A.
Fifty Nembutal pills, according to the report of the LA district attorney. A reference to Monroe's death by overdose, surrounded by conspiracy theories.
Quelque chose est à- / Normal Jean Baker / Téléphonne à main droite / Il est possible qu'elle ait / Voulu appeler L.A.
Somethings' up. Monroe, also known as Norma Jean, is using her right hand to make a call, possibly to LA, indicating some kind of distress or urgency.
Cinq août soixante-deux / Trois heures quarante-deux / On l'emmène sans délai / A la morgue d' L.A.
August 5th, 1962, 3:42 am. Monroe is immediately taken to the morgue in LA after her death. A matter-of-fact narration of events.
Plus belle que la Divine / Monroe Marilyn
Monroe is described as more beautiful than the divine (referring to a deity). Emphasizing her iconic status.
Qui sait maintenant où elle est / Peut-être plus à L.A.
Repeating the first verse, with the same meaning of mystery and uncertainty surrounding Monroe's legacy.
Contributed by Sebastian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.