Jane Birkin
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
Appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in June 2001.
Biography
Landed several lightweight movie roles in the 1960s, when her looks seemed to symbolize the swinging spirit of the times (she played one of the nude models in Antonioni's 1966 "Blow-Up") and subsequently resurfaced as a respected talent in France. Birkin was the subject of a documentary by Agnes Varda, "Jane B. par Agnes V." (1988) and gave an affecting performance opposite Dirk Bogarde in Bertrand Tavernier's "Daddy Nostalgia" (1990). Her younger daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg, by composer-director Serge Gainsbourg, is also an actress and her brother is writer-director Andrew Birkin ("Burning Secret" 1988). The ultra-expensive luxury item the Birkin bag was created by Hermès head Jean-Louis Dumas in 1984, inspired by a meeting with the actress and singer in which she complained about never finding a leather purse she really liked. Birkin's daughter with British film composer John Barry, fashion photographer Kate Barry, committed suicide by jumping from the balcony of her Paris apartment on December 11, 2013.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1965
First film appearance (bit part) in "The Knack"
1975
Began singing career by recording "Je t'aime, moi non plus" with Serge Gainsbourg (also title of his first film as director)
1985
TV acting debut, "Cinecitta" (with Vittorio Gassman)
1987
Contributed story idea for Agnes Varda's "Kung Fu Master" (also actress)
1988
Was subject and star of Agnes Varda's film, "Jane B. Par Agnes V."
1991
Co-starred in Jacques Rivette's "La Belle Noiseuse"
1995
Reteamed with Agnes Varda for "One Hundred and One Nights" (released in the USA in 1999)
1996
Made first foray into classic tragedy appearing in Euripides' "Woman of Troy" at the National Theatre in England
1997
Appeared in Alain Resnais' "On connait la chanson/Same Old Song"
1998
Played the bohemian mother of a classmate of the titular character in "A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries"
1999
Recorded radio production of her play "Oh Sorry, Were You Asleep?"
1999
Had featured role in Deborah Warner's feature directorial debut "The Last September"
2004
Cast opposite Dianne Wiest in "Merci Docteur Rey"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Appointed to the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in June 2001.
