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.
Plus loin de ta rue
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je m'inventerai des circonstances
Pour ne pas te mentir je ne vois plus
C'est une question de bienséance
Mon sentiment se perd au fond de la mer
Et je pense à ton existence
Mon sentiment se fond et je tourne en rond
Pour pouvoir (etc)
Ce monde est en délire et moi je me tire
C'est une façon d'être en avance
Ce monde est en faillite et moi je te quitte
Et je déclare mon innocence
Ce monde (etc)
The lyrics of "Plus loin de ta rue" by Jane Birkin revolve around the concept of distancing oneself from a former lover. The singer of the song declares that in order to stay away from the lover's street, she will make up excuses and circumstances. She also admits that she does not see the lover anymore, as it is a matter of propriety. The singer's feelings for the lover have sunk to the bottom of the sea, but she still thinks about the lover's existence. She feels lost and confused and seeks the lover's indulgence.
As the song progresses, the singer declares that she is leaving the world that is in chaos and turmoil. She sees it as a way of being ahead of the times. She declares that the world is bankrupt, and she is leaving the lover, claiming her innocence.
Overall, the song portrays a sense of melancholy and a desire to move on. It is a bittersweet reflection on the complexities of love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Pour pouvoir me tenir plus loin de ta rue
In order to stay away from your street, I will create excuses
Je m'inventerai des circonstances
I will invent circumstances to avoid lying to you
Pour ne pas te mentir je ne vois plus
To be honest, I no longer see you as I used to
C'est une question de bienséance
It's a matter of propriety
Mon sentiment se perd au fond de la mer
My feelings are lost at sea
Et je pense à ton existence
And I think about your existence
Mon sentiment se fond et je tourne en rond
My emotions are melting away and I'm going in circles
Et je réclame ton indulgence
And I ask for your forgiveness
Ce monde est en délire et moi je me tire
This world is crazy and I'm leaving
C'est une façon d'être en avance
It's a way of being ahead of the game
Ce monde est en faillite et moi je te quitte
This world is bankrupt and I'm leaving you
Et je déclare mon innocence
And I declare my innocence
Contributed by Isabella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.