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 daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg, by composer-director Serge Gainsbourg, is also an actress and her brother is writer-director Andrew Birkin ("Burning Secret" 1988).
- Born:
on 12/14/47 in London, England
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Job Titles:
Actor, Singer, Model, Playwright
Family
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Brother: Andrew Birkin.
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Daughter: Charlotte Gainsbourg. born on July 21, 1971; father, Serge Gainsbourg
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Daughter: Kate Barry. born in 1967; father, John Barry; founded a drug rehab center
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Daughter: Lou Doillon. born c. 1983; father, Jacques Doillon
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Mother: Judy Campbell. appeared in plays written by Noel Coward
Significant Others
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Husband: John Barry. met when Birkin appeared in his musical, "Passion Flower Hotel", at age 18; married in 1966; divorced in 1968
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Companion: Jacques Doillon. began relationship in 1980; no longer together
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Companion: Serge Gainsbourg. met during filming of French film "Slogan"; together from 1968 to 1980; died on March 2, 1991 at age 62
Education
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Kensington Academy, London, England
Milestones
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1965 First film appearance (bit part) in "The Knack"
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1975 Began singing career by recording "Je t'aime, moi non plus" with Serge Gainsbourg (also title of his first film as director)
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1985 TV acting debut, "Cinecitta" (with Vittorio Gassman)
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1987 Contributed story idea for Agnes Varda's "Kung Fu Master" (also actress)
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1988 Was subject and star of Agnes Varda's film, "Jane B. Par Agnes V."
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1991 Co-starred in Jacques Rivette's "La Belle Noiseuse"
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1995 Reteamed with Agnes Varda for "One Hundred and One Nights" (released in the USA in 1999)
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1996 Made first foray into classic tragedy appearing in Euripides' "Woman of Troy" at the National Theatre in England
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1997 Appeared in Alain Resnais' "On connait la chanson/Same Old Song"
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1998 Played the bohemian mother of a classmate of the titular character in "A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries"
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1999 Had featured role in Deborah Warner's feature directorial debut "The Last September"
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1999 Recorded radio production of her play "Oh Sorry, Were You Asleep?"
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2004 Cast opposite Dianne Wiest in "Merci Docteur Rey"
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London stage debut (bit part) in "Carving a Statue" aged 17