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.
T'as Pas Le Droit D'avoir Moins Mal Que Moi
Jane Birkin Lyrics
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The lyrics of Jane Birkin's song "T'as Pas Le Droit D'avoir Moins Mal Que Moi" speak about the unfairness of pain and how it should be shared equally. The singer expresses her frustration that if she is in pain, it is not fair for her partner to not feel the same level of pain. She believes that their pain should be equal and that if she loses 101 drops of blood, her partner should also lose 101 drops instead of only 100.
She goes on to say that if she is crying, her partner should cry with the same intensity for the same reasons. She believes that when one partner is suffering, the other should also suffer as much. The singer also expresses her disappointment that her partner should be spared from the pain while she is the only one struggling and how unfair it is for her partner to be okay.
She concludes by admonishing her partner for not feeling the same pain and being somewhere else while she is on the brink of the abyss. The song passionately expresses the pain and frustration of being in a relationship where one partner is not feeling the same intensity of pain.
Line by Line Meaning
T'as pas le droit d'avoir moins mal que moi
You are not allowed to feel less pain than me
Si j'ai mal c'est pas normal que toi tu n'aies pas mal
If I am in pain, it's not normal for you to not be in pain
Ta douleur ? ma douleur se doit d'?tre ?gale
Your pain should be equal to my pain
Si j'verse cent une gouttes de mon sang
If I shed one hundred and one drops of blood
Et que tu n'en verses que cent, c'est blessant
And you only shed one hundred, it's hurtful
T'as pas le droit alors que j' d?guste
You are not allowed to not suffer when I am in pain
De pas souffrir c'est trop injuste
It's too unfair for you to not feel pain
Si tu pleures pas comme je pleure je fais un scandale
If you don't cry as much as I cry, I will make a scene
Pour chaque larme qui coule sur ma joue
For every tear that falls down my cheek
J'veux la copie exacte comme d'un bijou
I want an exact copy, like a jewel
T'as pas le droit, ? l'heure o? j'en bave
You are not allowed to not be a wreck when I am struggling
D'?tre autre chose qu'une ?pave
You cannot be anything other than a wreck
S' t'endures pas 'que j'endure comprends que je r?le
If you can't endure what I endure, understand that I will complain
On a toujours partag? tout
We have always shared everything
Mon angoisse prends-en une tasse, tea for two
Take a cup of my anxiety, tea for two
T'as pas le droit, alors que j' d?prime
You are not allowed to not be on the verge of an abyss when I am depressed
D'?tre ailleurs qu'au bord de l'ab?me
You cannot be anywhere other than on the edge of the abyss
Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.