End of an era: French icon and British-born star Jane Birkin dies in Paris

Jane Birkin, a British-born actress and singer who transformed into a beloved icon in France, has passed away in Paris at the age of 76.

Known as a “timeless Francophone icon” by the French Culture Ministry, Birkin left an indelible imprint on both the French and international music and film scenes.

Jane Birkin was found deceased at her Paris home, as per sources close to her. This comes after she had a mild stroke in 2021, following previous years of heart issues. She was renowned globally for her 1969 sexually explicit hit “Je t’aime…moi non plus”, sung with her then-lover, the late French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.

Since the late 1960s, Jane Birkin lived in France, where she was widely celebrated not only for her singing and acting roles in numerous films but also for her warm personality and her steadfast advocacy for women’s and LGBT rights. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo lamented the loss of the “most Parisian of the English,” praising Birkin’s music, laughter, and “incomparable accent.”

British-born actress and singer Jane Birkin passes away in France. Photo courtesy of Mariusz Kubik/Wikimedia Commons.

Born in December 1946 in London to British actress Judy Campbell and Royal Navy commander David Birkin, Jane Birkin launched her career at 17. Notable early work included the 1965 musical “Passion Flower Hotel”, and her controversial appearance in Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 film “Blow-Up.”

Birkin’s rise to fame, however, came in France, where she gained renown not just for her acting and music but also for her love affair with Gainsbourg. Following their split in 1981, she maintained her successful career, releasing acclaimed albums like “Baby Alone in Babylone” and “Amour des Feintes.”

Her death has been met with heartfelt tributes, including from French singer Etienne Daho, who produced her last album in 2020 and noted it was “unimaginable to live in a world without you.” Jane Birkin is survived by two daughters, Charlotte and Lou Doillon, continuing her artistic legacy in music and acting.