Jane Birkin, the beloved British actress and singer, who captivated France with her elegance, natural style, and social activism, has passed away at the age of 76.
Birkin’s caregiver discovered her lifeless on Sunday, July 16. The cause of her death has not been disclosed, but reports indicate that she battled health issues in recent years, including a stroke in 2021 and a broken shoulder blade earlier this year, which prevented her from performing and appearing publicly.
Born in London in December 1946, Birkin found fame and a lifelong home in France after moving to Paris to work on the film “Slogan” at the age of 20. It was on the set of this 1968 film that she met and formed a lasting relationship with French actor and singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg, who became her partner.
That same year, Birkin and Gainsbourg collaborated on the highly renowned and controversial song, “Je T’Aime… Moi Non Plus,” a sexually suggestive duet that became her most well-known song. Despite being banned on radio in several countries and condemned by the Vatican, the song achieved worldwide success, reaching No. 1 on the UK singles chart.
Their relationship was often described as tumultuous, with reports of violence. Birkin defended Gainsbourg against accusations of harassment made by another singer in a 2020 interview with The Times.
Although Birkin hailed from England, she became a fashion icon in France during the 1960s and ’70s. She inspired the creation of one of the most coveted luxury bags in the world, the Birkin bag, by French luxury design house Hermès. The bag originated from a conversation between Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas during a flight from Paris to London, where they discussed the difficulty of finding a bag that met Birkin’s needs as a mother of two.
Birkin appeared in approximately 70 films, working with acclaimed French directors such as Bertrand Tavernier, Agnès Varda, Jean-Luc Godard, Alain Resnais, and James Ivory. Some of her notable acting credits include the 1966 crime comedy “Kaleidoscope,” the 1978 adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile,” and the 1982 mystery “Evil Under the Sun.”
Birkin faced personal tragedy with the loss of her daughter Kate Barry, a fashion photographer, in 2013. She had another daughter, singer Lou Doillon, from her 13-year relationship with director Jacques Doillon. Birkin is also survived by her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg, a 51-year-old actress she shares with Serge Gainsbourg.
The legacy of Jane Birkin, an iconic figure in both the entertainment and fashion industries, will be remembered for her indelible contributions and timeless charm.
