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==Birkin bag==
==Birkin bag==
[[Hermès]] named and designed a handbag—the [[Birkin bag]]—for her in 1984. On an Air France flight from Paris to London, Jane Birkin pulled her Hermes datebook out of her bag and all her papers fell on the floor. She complained to the passenger sitting next to her that the book should have pockets. That passenger was the chairman of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas, and after hearing her complain he created the Birkin bag.
[[Hermès]] named and designed a handbag—the [[[http://www.cutehandbags.org/hermes-handbags/hermes-birkin.html Birkin bag]]]—for her in 1984. On an Air France flight from Paris to London, Jane Birkin pulled her Hermes datebook out of her bag and all her papers fell on the floor. She complained to the passenger sitting next to her that the book should have pockets. That passenger was the chairman of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas, and after hearing her complain he created the Birkin bag.


[[Image:Charlotte Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin 2010 b.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Birkin with her second daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg in 2010]]
[[Image:Charlotte Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin 2010 b.jpg|right|thumb|275px|Birkin with her second daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg in 2010]]

Revision as of 03:25, 6 January 2011

Jane Birkin
(2009)
Born
Jane Mallory Birkin

(1946-12-14) 14 December 1946 (age 77)
London, England
Occupation(s)Singer, actress, director, songwriter, activist
Years active1966–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1965⁠–⁠1968)​

​
​
(m. 1969⁠–⁠1980)​

​
​
(m. 1981⁠–⁠1993)​
Websitehttp://www.janebirkin.net/

Jane Mallory Birkin, OBE (born 14 December 1946)[1] is an English-born actress and singer who lives in France. She is best known as the muse of Serge Gainsbourg who wrote several of her albums, and for her work on screen collaborating with such directors as Jacques Rivette, Agnès Varda and Jacques Doillon. In recent years she has written her own album, directed a film and become an outspoken proponent of democracy in Burma.

Early life

Jane Birkin was born on 14 December 1946, in 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 espionage operative. Her brother is the screenwriter and director Andrew Birkin. She was educated at Upper Chine School, Isle of Wight.

Career

Birkin emerged in the Swinging London scene of the 1960s, appearing briefly in the 1966 film Blowup, and as the fantasy-like model in the psychedelic Wonderwall from 1968. That same year, she auditioned in France for the lead female role in Slogan. Though she did not speak French, she won the role. She co-starred with Serge Gainsbourg, and duetted with him on the film's theme song, "La chanson de slogan"—the first of many collaborations between the two.

In 1969, she and Gainsbourg released the duet "Je t'aime... moi non plus" ("I love you... me neither"). Gainsbourg originally wrote the song for Brigitte Bardot. The song caused a scandal for its sexual explicitness, and was banned by radio stations in Italy, Spain, and the UK. The song's fame is partly a result of its salacious lyrics, sung in French by both Gainsbourg and Birkin to a background of increasing sexual moans and groans from Birkin and culminating in her simulated orgasm at the song's conclusion.

This UK ban had TV show Top Of The Pops producers in a quandary as they always played the number one single. Controversially, they played the instrumental version which had been recorded by studio musicians Sounds Nice. This version was also a UK number 18 hit under the title of Love At First Sight.

Je t'aime made UK chart history in that on 4 October 1969 and the following week on the 11th. Je t'aime was at two different chart positions even though it is the same song, the same artists, and the same recorded version. The only difference was that they were on different record labels. It was originally released on the Fontana label, but due to its controversy, Fontana withdrew the record which was then released on the Major Minor label. Because there were Fontana singles still in the shops along with the Major Minor release, on 4 October 1969 the Major Minor release was at number 3 and the Fontana single at number 16. Also at that time it was the biggest ever selling single for a completely foreign language record.

Birkin also appeared on Gainsbourg's 1971 album Histoire de Melody Nelson, portraying the Lolita-like protagonist in song and on the cover.[2]

Birkin in 1985

Birkin took a break from acting in 1971–72, but returned as Brigitte Bardot's lover in Don Juan (Or If Don Juan Were a Woman) in 1973.[1] In 1975, she appeared in Gainsbourg's first film, Je t'aime... moi non plus, which created a stir for frank examination of sexual ambiguity. For this performance she was nominated for a Best Actress César Award.[1]

Birkin starred in the Agatha Christie films Death on the Nile (1978) and Evil Under the Sun (1982), and recorded several albums, including Baby Alone in Babylone, Amours des Feintes, Lolita Go Home and Rendez-vous. She won Female Artist of the Year in the 1992 Victoires de la Musique.[1]

She starred in two films directed 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 U.S).

In 1980 she worked with director Herbert Vesely on Egon Schiele Exzess und Bestrafung, appearing as the mistress of Austrian artist Egon Schiele, played by Mathieu Carrière.

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 Gainsbourg.[1]

In 2006, she played the title role in Elektra, directed by Philippe Calvario in France.[1]

Birkin's humanitarian interests led her to work with Amnesty International on immigrant welfare and AIDS issues. Birkin has also visited Bosnia, Rwanda and Palestine, often working with children. In 2001, she was awarded the OBE. She has also been awarded the French Ordre National du Mérite.

She has collaborated 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, Benjamin Biolay, Keren Ann, Yann Tiersen, Alain Souchon, Les Negresses Vertes, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, Zazie, MC Solaar, Miossec, Yōsui Inoue, Étienne Daho, Alain Chamfort, Jimmy Rowles, Goran Bregović, Sonny Landreth, The Soundtrack of Our Lives and many others.[1]

Birkin recorded the song "Beauty" on French producer Hector Zazou's 2003 album Strong Currents.[1]

The cover art of Have You Fed the Fish? by singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy, (which features her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg on backing vocals), features her image.

Birkin bag

Hermès named and designed a handbag—the [[Birkin bag]]—for her in 1984. On an Air France flight from Paris to London, Jane Birkin pulled her Hermes datebook out of her bag and all her papers fell on the floor. She complained to the passenger sitting next to her that the book should have pockets. That passenger was the chairman of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas, and after hearing her complain he created the Birkin bag.

Birkin with her second daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg in 2010

Personal life

Birkin was first married from 1965 until 1968 to John Barry, the English composer who wrote the musical score to the James Bond movies. Their daughter, the photographer Kate Barry, was born on April 8, 1967.

She had a passionate and creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg—they met on the set of Slogan. They married some time afterwards. In 1971 they had a daughter, the actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg. Birkin left Gainsbourg in 1980.

On September 6, 1982 she gave birth to her third daughter, Lou Doillon, from her relationship with the director Jacques Doillon.

Discography

Filmography

Source[3]

Ancestry

Family of Jane Birkin
16. Richard Birkin
8. Sir Thomas Isaac Birkin, 1st Baronet
17. Mary Anne Walker
4. Harry Laurence Birkin
18. Matthew Tebbutt
9. Harriet Terbutt
19. Mary Anne Clarke
2. David Leslie Birkin
20. Lord Charles James Fox Russell
10. Rev. Henry Charles Russell
21. Isabella Clarissa Davies
5. Olive Isobel Russell
22. Henry Willoughby, 8th Baron Middleton
11. Hon. Leila Louisa Millicent Willoughby
23. Hon. Julia Louisa Bosvile
1. Jane Mallory Birkin
24. Sir David Gamble, 1st Baronet
12. Sir Josias Christopher Gamble, 2nd Baronet
25. Elizabeth Haddock (sister of 31)
6. John Arthur Gamble
26.
13. Isabella Sanderson
27.
3. Judy Mary Gamble
28.
14. Rev. Arthur Raggett Cole
29.
7. Lilian Jane Emily Cole
30. Rev. Joseph Baldwin Meredith
15. Elizabeth Meredith
31. Ann Jane Haddock (sister of 25)

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h allmusic Biography
  2. ^ http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/on_second_thought/serge-gainsbourg-histoire-de-melody-nelson.htm
  3. ^ "Filmography." Jane Birkin. Retrieved on 5 July 2010.
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