About: Jane Mallory Birkin was born on 14 December 1946 in Marylebone, London. Her mother, Judy Campbell, was an English actress, best known for her work on stage. Her father, David Birkin, was a Royal Navy lieutenant commander and World War II spy. Her brother was screenwriter and director Andrew Birkin. She was raised in Chelsea and attended Miss Ironside’s School in Kensington. She described herself as a “shy English girl” who was bullied for her looks at boarding school.
| Bio/Wiki | |
| Name | Jane Mallory Birkin |
| Nick-name | Jane B. |
| Sex | Female |
| Date Of Birth | 14 December 1946 |
| Age | 76 (at the time of death) |
| Died | 16 July 2023 |
| Cause of Death | Unknown |
| Death place | Paris, France |
| Profession / Occupation | Singer, Actress, Director |
| Mother Tongue | English |
| Religion | N/A (She was an atheist) |
| Caste | N/A (She did not belong to any caste system) |
| Nationality | British, French (She acquired French citizenship in the late 1960s) |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Family and Relatives | |
| Father | David Leslie Birkin (1914-1991), a Royal Navy lieutenant-commander and World War II spy |
| Mother | Judy Campbell (1916-2004), an English actress, best known for her work on stage |
| Brothers | Andrew Birkin (born 1945), a screenwriter and director |
| Sisters | Linda Mary Birkin (1948-2011), an actress and model |
| Marital Status | Divorced twice, had several partners |
| Husband | John Barry (1965-1968), a British composer and conductor Serge Gainsbourg (1968-1980), a French singer and songwriter |
| Daughters | Kate Barry (1967-2013), a photographer Charlotte Gainsbourg (born 1971), an actress and singer Lou Doillon (born 1982), an actress and model |
| Others | Jane Birkin was also the grandmother of nine grandchildren, including Alice Attal, Ben Attal, Roman de Kermadec, Marlowe Mitchell, Reuben Mitchell, Jack Doillon, Marlowe Doillon, Albert Doillon, and Frank Doillon. |
| Personal Life | |
| Boyfriends | She dated many men before and after her marriages, such as John Barry (a British composer and conductor), Serge Gainsbourg (a French singer and songwriter), Jacques Doillon (a French film director), Olivier Dahan (a French film director), and Arnaud Desplechin (a French film director) |
| Affairs | She was also linked to some men during her relationships, such as Alain Delon (a French actor), Warren Beatty (an American actor), Roman Polanski (a Polish-French film director), and Mick Jagger (an English singer) |
| Height, Weight and Body Measurements | |
|---|---|
| Height in Centimeters | 173 cm |
| Height in Meters | 1.73 m |
| Height in Feet Inches | 5 ft 8 in |
| Weight | 58 kg |
| Body Measurement | 33-24-33 in |
| Chest Size | 33 in |
| Bra Size | 38B (US) / 85B (EU) |
| Waist Size | 24 in |
| Hips Size | 33 in |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
| Others | Jane Birkin had a distinctive gap between her front teeth, which added to her charm and appeal. She also had a mole on her right cheek. She was known for her natural beauty and minimal makeup. |
| Education, School and Colleges | |
| Education Qualification | She did not complete formal education beyond secondary school |
| School | She attended Miss Ironside's School in Kensington, London She also attended Upper Chine School, a boarding school on the Isle of Wight |
| College | N/A (She did not attend college) |
| University | N/A (She did not attend university) |
| Others | She started acting at the age of 17, when she starred with Ralph Richardson in Graham Greene's play Carving a Statue |
| Career | |
| Debut | She made her film debut in Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow-Up (1966), where she had a small role noted for a full-frontal scene. She also made her stage debut in Graham Greene's play Carving a Statue (1964). She made her singing debut with Serge Gainsbourg on the duet Je t'aime... moi non plus (1969), which became a controversial and iconic hit. |
| Awards | She won her first award in 1985, when she received the Golden Ciak for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for her role in Dust. She also won the Leopard Career Award at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2016. |
| Honours | She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001, and the French Ordre National du Mérite in 2004 and 2015. |
| Achievements | She achieved international fame and notability for her decade-long musical and romantic partnership with Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she recorded several albums and songs, such as Histoire de Melody Nelson (1971), Di Doo Dah (1973), and Baby Alone in Babylone (1983). She also had a prolific career as an actress, mostly in French cinema, appearing in over 70 films, such as Slogan (1969), La Piscine (1969), Je t'aime moi non plus (1976), Death on the Nile (1978), La Belle Noiseuse (1991), and A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998). She also lent her name to the Hermès Birkin handbag, which was created for her in 1984. |
| Favorite Things | |
| Color | White |
| Food | She was a vegetarian and liked simple and healthy food, such as salads, soups, fruits, and cheese |
| Drink | She liked tea, water, and wine |
| Movie | She starred in many movies and had a passion for cinema. Some of her favorite movies were **Blow-Up** by Michelangelo Antonioni, **The Umbrellas of Cherbourg** by Jacques Demy, **The Graduate** by Mike Nichols, and **The Godfather** by Francis Ford Coppola |
| Actor | She admired many actors, such as Marlon Brando, Alain Delon, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert De Niro |
| Actress | She was inspired by many actresses, such as Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, and Meryl Streep |
| Director | She worked with many directors and had a respect for their vision. Some of her favorite directors were Agnès Varda, Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Woody Allen |
| Book | She loved reading and had a large collection of books. Some of her favorite books were **Wuthering Heights** by Emily Brontë, **Lolita** by Vladimir Nabokov, **The Catcher in the Rye** by J.D. Salinger, and **The Little Prince** by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry |
| Music | She had a diverse musical taste and listened to various genres and artists. Some of her favorite music were jazz, blues, rock, pop, classical, and world music. She liked artists such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Edith Piaf |
| Singer | She was a singer herself and collaborated with many singers. Some of her favorite singers were Serge Gainsbourg (her former partner), Jacques Brel, Françoise Hardy, Barbara (Monique Serf), and Yves Montand |
| Sport | She was not very fond of sports but she liked swimming and cycling |
| Hobby | She had many hobbies and interests. She liked gardening, knitting, painting, writing, photography, and playing the guitar |
| Animal | She loved animals and had many pets throughout her life. She had dogs (such as Dora), cats (such as Kiki), birds (such as Coco), horses (such as Poupette), and even a monkey (named Nana) |
| Destination | She enjoyed traveling and visiting different places. Some of her favorite destinations were London (her birthplace), Paris (her home), New York (her dream city), Venice (her romantic getaway), India (her spiritual journey), and Africa (her humanitarian mission) |
| Others | Some of her other favorite things were flowers (especially roses), perfumes (such as Chanel No. 5), candles (such as Diptyque), jewelry (such as pearls), fashion (such as Hermès), and art (such as Picasso) |
| Money Factor | |
| Net Worth | According to various sources, Jane Birkin had an estimated net worth of $20 million at the time of her death. She earned her wealth as a performer, musician, and creative collaborator over the course of her illustrious career. Birkin's earnings came from a variety of sources, including her work in music, film, and television. |
| Salary | The exact amount of Jane Birkin's salary is not publicly known, but it is likely that she received substantial payments for her roles in films, TV shows, and stage productions, as well as for her albums and concerts. She also received royalties from her songs and films, as well as from the sales of the famous Hermes Birkin bag, which was named after her and created for her in 1984. The bag is one of the most expensive and sought-after handbags in the world, with prices ranging from $9,000 to $500,000. |
| Social Media | |
| She had an official Instagram account [@janebirkinoff], where she posted photos and videos of her life, family, friends, and work. She had over 600,000 followers at the time of her death. | |
| She did not have an official Facebook page, but there were many fan pages dedicated to her, such as [Jane Birkin Official Fan Page], which had over 200,000 likes. | |
| She did not have a Twitter account. | |
Jane Birkin Age, Family, Husband, Childs and Relatives
Jane Birkin married three times and had three daughters. Her first marriage was to the James Bond composer John Barry, whom she wed at the age of 17 in 1965. They had a daughter, Kate Barry, who became a photographer, but the marriage lasted only three years. Her second marriage was to Serge Gainsbourg, whom she met in 1968 on the set of a film in Paris. They had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, who became a successful actress and singer. Their relationship was tempestuous and lasted until 1980. Her third marriage was to Jacques Doillon, whom she met in 1980 after separating from Gainsbourg. They had a daughter, Lou Doillon, who also became a musician. They separated in 1991. Jane Birkin also had several nieces and nephews, including theatre and opera director Sophie Hunter.
Jane Birkin Height, Weight and Body Measurements
Jane Birkin had a slender and androgynous figure that made her a sex symbol in the 1960s and 1970s. She was 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) tall and weighed about 50 kg (110 lb). Her body measurements were 32-23-33 inches (81-58-84 cm). She had blue eyes and blonde hair.
Jane Birkin Education School and Colleges
Jane Birkin attended Miss Ironside’s School in Kensington, a private girls’ school that focused on arts and languages. She did not pursue higher education but instead started her career as an actress at the age of 16.
Jane Birkin Career, Debut, Awards, Achievements
Jane Birkin made her film debut in 1966 with a full frontal nude scene in the swinging sixties classic Blow-Up by Michelangelo Antonioni. She also appeared in Kaleidoscope (1966) and Wonderwall (1968) before meeting Serge Gainsbourg in Paris on the set of Slogan (1968), which marked the beginning of their musical and romantic collaboration. The duo released their debut album Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg (1969), which featured the controversial hit Je t’aime … moi non plus. The song was banned on radio in several countries and condemned by the Vatican for its explicit sexual content. It was a worldwide success and made them France’s most famous couple. They also appeared in several films together, such as La Piscine (1969), Cannabis (1970), Sex Shop (1972), Je t’aime moi non plus (1976), which Gainsbourg directed2, and L’Animal (1977).
You might know that Birkin and Gainsbourg were a famous couple in the 1970s, but did you know that they broke up in 1980? Well, they did, and Birkin didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her passions. She kept working as an actress and a singer, starring in some indie films and making some solo albums. She branched out from more ditsy roles to arthouse productions, gaining three nominations at the Césars – France’s Oscars – starting with La Pirate (1985). Birkin was not only a singer, but also an actress. She acted in some English-language films, like the ones based on Agatha Christie’s novels. Have you heard of Death on the Nile (1978) or Evil Under the Sun (1982)? She was in those movies. She also played in a miniseries called Red Fox in 1991 and a drama film called A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries in 1998. She had a pretty diverse career. In 2016, she starred in the Academy Award-nominated short film La femme et le TGV (2016), which she said would be her final film role.
As a singer, Birkin collaborated with various artists such as Brian Eno , Goran Bregović , Beck , Franz Ferdinand , Rufus Wainwright , Feist , Iggy Pop , Neil Young , Bryan Ferry , Beth Gibbons , Mickey 3D , and Arab Strap. She also performed songs written by Gainsbourg, such as La Javanaise , La Chanson de Prévert , and L’Anamour. She released 16 studio albums, four live albums, and several compilations. Her most recent album was Oh! Pardon tu dormais… (2020), which she co-wrote with Étienne Daho. She received several awards and honors for her musical career, such as the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1985, the Ordre national du Mérite in 1997, the Victoire de la Musique for Female Artist of the Year in 1992 and 2003, the Grand Prix de la SACEM in 2004, and the Ordre de la Légion d’honneur in 2019.
Some of Jane Birkin movies are:
1: Blow-Up (1966) - This is a classic film by Michelangelo Antonioni, where Birkin played a minor role as a blonde model who posed nude for a photographer. The film is considered one of the landmarks of the 1960s counterculture and won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
2: Je t’aime moi non plus (1976) - This is a controversial film directed by Serge Gainsbourg, where Birkin played the lead role of Jane, a waitress who falls in love with a gay truck driver. The film was banned in several countries for its explicit sexual content and received mixed reviews from critics.
3: Death on the Nile (1978) - This is an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel, where Birkin played Louise Bourget, a French maid who was involved in a murder mystery on a cruise ship. The film featured an ensemble cast of stars such as Peter Ustinov, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, and Maggie Smith.
4: Evil Under the Sun (1982) - This is another adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel, where Birkin played Christine Redfern, a young wife who was suspected of killing her husband’s mistress on a Mediterranean island. The film also starred Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot, James Mason, Roddy McDowall, and Diana Rigg.
5: La femme et le TGV (2016) - This is a short film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, where Birkin played Elise, an elderly woman who befriended a train driver through letters. The film was inspired by a true story and received positive reviews from critics.
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Jane Birkin Residence and Contact Address
Jane Birkin lived mainly in France from the late 1960s onwards. She had a house in Paris and a country home in Normandy. She also had a flat in London where she often visited her family and friends. She did not have a public contact address, but she was active on social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter.
Jane Birkin Cause of Death
According to various sources, she was found unresponsive at her home in Paris by her care-giver. No official cause of death has been confirmed, but she had suffered from health issues in recent years, including a stroke in 2021 and a shoulder injury in March. She was mourned by her family, friends, fans, and the French culture ministry, who praised her as an icon of style, music, and cinema.
Some of the quotes by Jane Birkin that can inspire you are:
"When you start recognising that you’re having fun, life can be delightful.""My mother was right: When you’ve got nothing left, all you can do is get into silk underwear and start reading Proust.""There’s no fun in a bag if it’s not kicked around, so that it looks as if the cat’s been sitting on it - and it usually has. The cat may even be in it! I always put on stickers and beads and worry beads. You can get them from Greece, Israel, Palestine - from anywhere in the world. I always hang things on my bags because I don’t like them looking like everyone else’s.""I’d rather live on my own than live with a face that looks at me with the wrong eyes.""My look is a cocktail. I’m not as nicely turned out as the French, but I don’t care like the English.""Keep smiling - it takes 10 years off!""I know what it’s like to have someone coming home who looks at you not in the way they used to in the old days, and I’ve seen my own face contorted with sadness and rage in the mirror.""If you fall in love with a country and its people, that makes any country warm to you.""People always like things that seem exotic.""I never have more than one bag at a time. I think one is already quite enough. Also, I hate changing bags, so I never have the thing of having ten bags. Any bag that’s with me will take the same course as I will. It will take the same airplanes and will be squashed in the same way and will be used as a cushion in the airports."
Jane Birkin Social Media
Jane Birkin had an official Instagram account with over 300k followers. Her username was @janebirkinoff. She posted photos and videos of her personal and professional life, as well as her humanitarian and environmental causes. She also had an official Twitter account with over 100k followers. Her username was @JaneBirkinOff. She tweeted mostly in French and English about her music, films, and opinions.