French media reported the passing of Jane Birkin, the renowned singer and actress, at the age of 76. She was discovered at her residence by her caregiver, as mentioned by BFMTV. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, referred to her as “the most Parisian of the English” in a heartfelt tweet, celebrating her songs, laughter, and unique accent that had always resonated with the people. The French Culture Ministry also acknowledged her as a “timeless French-speaking icon.”
Earlier, in March 2022, Jane Birkin had suffered a shoulder injury, causing her to postpone several concerts in Paris that were initially scheduled for May. She expressed her optimism in returning to the stage in a statement, though she had faced previous show cancellations due to a stroke in September 2021.
Born in London, Birkin had been living in France since the 1960s, where she kickstarted her career as an actress. Notably, she appeared in the 1966 film “Blow Up,” creating controversy for her appearance in a threesome sex scene. She married John Barry, the British James Bond composer, but they divorced in 1968, and they had a daughter named Kate Barry, who tragically passed away in 2013.
Jane Birkin gained international fame through her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, both on and off-screen. They met while acting together in the 1969 French film “Slogan” and subsequently released their debut album. One of their songs, “Je t’aime… moi non plus,” despite being banned from several radio stations, reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.
Throughout her career, even after parting ways with Gainsbourg, Birkin continued acting in various films and recorded numerous solo albums in both French and English. Her artistic pursuits included appearances in films such as “Kaleidoscope,” “Death on the Nile,” and “Evil Under the Sun.”
In a fascinating tale of inspiration, the iconic Hermès Birkin designer handbag was born out of a conversation between Jane Birkin and Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas during a flight from Paris to London in 1981. The bag, designed to meet Birkin’s needs as a mother, was named after her and became a sought-after status symbol, owned by celebrities like Melania Trump, Cardi B, Victoria Beckham, and Kim Kardashian.
Beyond her artistic endeavors, Jane Birkin was also known for her philanthropy and humanitarian work, collaborating with organizations such as Amnesty International and Unicef. In 2022, she participated in a protest video, cutting off locks of her hair alongside her daughter to support anti-government protesters in Iran.
Jane Birkin is survived by her daughters Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon, leaving behind a rich legacy of music, film, and humanitarian contributions.
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