Jane Birkin became a fixture of French cinema and music after relocating to Paris in the late 1960s. Born in London in 1946, she began her career with minor roles in British features before her partnership with Serge Gainsbourg established her as a major international star. Her career spanned acting, singing, screenwriting, and modelling across several decades.
Early Career and Relocation
Birkin attended Miss Ironside's School and École Jeannine Manuel. Her early screen work included appearances in the 1965 film The Knack ...and How to Get It, followed by roles in Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blowup in 1966 and the film Kaleidoscope the same year. After starring in the 1968 film Wonderwall, she auditioned for the French production Slogan. This role brought her to Paris, where she remained, eventually acquiring French citizenship.
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Take the IQ test →Collaborations with Serge Gainsbourg
The professional and personal relationship between Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg defined much of her early public image. They co-starred in films such as Les Chemins de Katmandou and Cannabis, both released in 1969. Their 1969 duet, Je t'aime... moi non plus, became a global phenomenon despite being banned in several countries for its explicit nature. Birkin continued working under Gainsbourg's direction, including a role in the 1976 film Je t'aime moi non plus.
Professional Evolution
After her separation from Gainsbourg in 1980, Birkin maintained a consistent career in film and music. She appeared in notable English-language productions, including the Agatha Christie adaptations Death on the Nile in 1978 and Evil Under the Sun in 1982, as well as James Ivory's 1998 film A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries. Her final film role was in the 2016 Academy Award-nominated short film La femme et le TGV.
Recognition and Legacy
Birkin received numerous honors for her contributions to the arts. She was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire and an Officer of the National Order of Merit in 2015, later being elevated to Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 2022. She also received the Victory of honor in 2021 and The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette in 2018. She died in 2023 in the 6th arrondissement of Paris and is buried at Montparnasse Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, London
- Died: 2023, 6th arrondissement of Paris
- Citizenship: France; United Kingdom
- Career: Actor, singer, director, model, screenwriter
- Notable early film: Blowup (1966)
- Significant musical collaboration: Serge Gainsbourg
- Final film role: La femme et le TGV (2016)
- Burial site: Montparnasse Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Did Jane Birkin have French citizenship?
Yes, she acquired French citizenship after moving to Paris in the late 1960s.
What was Jane Birkin's final film appearance?
She starred in the 2016 Academy Award-nominated short film La femme et le TGV.
Achievements
- Knight of the National Order of Merit — 2004
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Officer of the National Order of Merit — 2015
- The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette — 2018
- Worked as singer, film actor and stage actor