Stars reminiscent of Jane Birkin: what was the life of the main muse of Serge Gainsbourg and style icons of the XX century

Jane Birkin starred in more than 30 films during her lifetime, but she is best remembered for her passionate romance with French singer Serge Gainsbourg and her influence on the fashion world.

Jane Birkin was born on December 14, 1946 in London to stage actress Judy Campbell and Royal Navy Lieutenant David Birkin, who worked for intelligence during the Second World War. His duties included ferrying British spies across the English Channel to France and returning stranded airmen and escaped prisoners of war.

Jane described herself as a shy girl, but it seems that this did not become an obstacle to fame. The future star was still quite young when her life was already full of events. At the age of 17, Jane met the composer John Barry, whom she married in 1965 and had a daughter, Kate. At the same time, charming Jane becomes the heroine of swinging London and begins to play small roles in films: “Knack … and how to get it”, “Blow-up”, “Kaleidoscope” – these are her first appearances on the screen. After divorcing her husband in 1968, Birkin returned to her parents’ home and focused on getting film auditions. Soon she gets a role that will change her whole life.

In 1969, despite not speaking French, Jane got the lead female role in the film Slogan, where her partner became Serge Gainsbourg. At first, the relationship between the Englishwoman and the Frenchman did not work at all, and then the director of the picture, tired of sending duplicates “to the trash”, went for a trick – he called Jane and Serge to the restaurant to discuss further work, but they did not come.

Then, over a glass of wine and in a relaxed atmosphere, despite the language barrier, the actors finally found a common language. They soon become the most talked about couple, the symbol of bohemian love and the performers of the scandalous song “Je t’aime… moi non plus”. Due to the obvious sexual undertones – the recording was accompanied by unmistakable moans – the song caused a scandal and was banned from radio in Italy, Spain and Great Britain. The song was also condemned by the Vatican and there were even rumors in society that the song was recorded under the hood during intimacy.

Gainsbourg originally recorded the song with Brigitte Bardot, but he did not like the version and did not release it. Birkin sang her part an octave higher than Bardo. Gainsbourg liked this better – his vocals sounded more distinct in such a “framework”. Birkin also won – it was in a duet with Gainsbourg, according to her, for the first time “someone thought she had a beautiful voice.”

In 1971, Serge and Jane had a daughter, Charlotte, who later also became a famous actress. In 1980, the couple broke up – Jane tired of Gainsbourg’s drinking. Thus ended the relationship of the most famous couple of Paris in the 70s, but not their love.

When Birkin gave birth to her third daughter, Lou, by director Jacques Doillon, Serge sent her a box of baby clothes as a gift, and she became the child’s godfather. Jane then barely survived Gainsbourg’s death in 1991 – blaming herself for not saving him from his destructive lifestyle.

Englishwoman Jane, paradoxically, has become one of the main symbols of French chic and the perfect embodiment of the image of stylish casualness that French women are famous for. Birkin wore flared jeans with a plain white T-shirt, the ultra-short dress she wore in the swinging London she spent her teenage years, and basket bags. Jane herself emphasized that fashion was rather indifferent to her, self-expression in real life was her comfort zone.

Jane went down in fashion history not only with her unique style. Today, the most expensive bag in the world bears her name. And it all started with a pretty everyday story. Jane was on the plane, as always, with her favorite straw bag. When the actress tried to put it on the shelf, all the contents spilled out onto the floor. Her neighbor who watched this scene was Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, to whom the actress complained that it was difficult for her to find a comfortable roomy leather bag, so she had to struggle with straw. Dumas promised to make such a bag for Jane – that’s how the famous Birkin model appeared.

When Jane was 40, she “discovered” herself. She eventually shed her youthful image of smartness and gave her first live concert.

Birkin stopped acting in films, and spent the last few years performing on stage and recording new songs. The last studio album was released in 2020. In 2021, Birkin suffered a stroke, the same year a documentary was released about her, made by her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg.

In addition to Charlotte, Birkin is survived by daughter Lou, six grandchildren, brother Andrew and sister Linda. Her first child, daughter Kate, who became a photographer, died in 2013.

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