One of the world’s favorite muses of all time, Jane Birkin, has passed away at the age of 76. She was found dead in her Paris home as confirmed by local media. The English singer and actress was treated for leukemia in the late 1990s and suffered a stroke in September of 2021.
Aside from her remarkable career and imprint on pop culture, she was known for being the ultimate "it girl" thanks to her je ne sais quoi quality that transcended generations. Her influence in fashion, beauty, and culture is undeniable.
Ahead, 10 things you should know about the iconic Jane Birkin:
1. Jane Mallory Birkin was born in London on December 14, 1946.
She is the daughter of British actress Judy Campbell and Royal Navy commander David Birkin. She was raised in Chelsea, West London.
2. Jane Birkin has three daughters.
She is the mother of three influential women who also followed in her footsteps dabbling in the creative field: the late Kate Barry, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Lou Doillon.
3. Jane Birkin began her career as an actress in 1960s London.
She became known for her appearances in movies like Blowup (1966) and Kaleidoscope (1966). It was through the 1969 film Slogan that she met her partner Serge Gainsbourg.
4. Jane Birkin was known for her high-profile relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, which was both personal and artistic.
They shot to fame through the track "Je T'aime...moi non plus." He would go on to write songs for her even after their breakup in 1980.
5. Jane Birkin became famous in France for her singing career, having relocated there in the 1970s.
In 2020, she recalled that period: “...it was a time of great innocence, and I don't think social problems were as they are today.”
6. Jane Birkin is also a known actress.
Although she was best known for her songs, Jane Birkin did not let go of acting. She starred in around 70 films throughout her six-decade career.
7. Jane Birkin inspired the creation of Hermes' iconic Birkin bag.
The inception of the iconic Birkin bag happened during a serendipitous encounter between Jane Birkin and Hermès' then-CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. It was in the early 1980s when they found themselves seated beside each other on a flight from Paris to London, and the English actress expressed her frustration with the lack of stylish yet practical bags available in the market. And by practical, she meant a spacious and functional arm candy that would fit in all her essentials.
Inspired by her input, Jean-Louis Dumas and his team at Hermès collaborated with Jane Birkin to design a new handbag that blended elegance, practicality, and exceptional craftsmanship. And that's how one of the most coveted "it bags" of all time came to be.
8. Jane Birkin never stopped creating music.
Even in the 2000s, she did not stop creating music, having released an album called Arabesque in 2002 and a collection of live recordings in 2008 titled Jane at the Palace.
9. Jane Birkin did not shy away from activism.
She campaigned for many political interests in France and also worked with Amnesty International on immigrant welfare and AIDS awareness.
10. Even people outside the fashion industry recognize Jane Birkin's influence.
President Emmanuel Macron called her “a French icon” while Menna Rawlings, the British ambassador to France, described her as "the most French of British artists.”
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