Maria Yi

Jane Mallory Birkin, a British actress, model, and singer, spent most of her career in France. Known for her work in film and music, she is also remembered for her tumultuous relationship with the famed singer Serge Gainsbourg. Born in London in 1946, her mother, Judy Campbell, was an actress, and her father, David Birkin, was an officer in the Royal Navy. Her brother, Andrew Birkin, became a successful director. Discovered at age 19, Birkin made her debut in the Palme d'Or winning film *Blow Up*. In 1968, she starred in the French film *Slogan*, where she met Serge Gainsbourg, one of the most popular artists of the time, and began a relationship that lasted for years and was constantly in the tabloids. Birkin appeared in several films with Gainsbourg and also ventured into music, becoming best known for their duet, *Je t'aime... moi non plus*. Gainsbourg had originally written and recorded the song with Brigitte Bardot, but re-recorded it with Birkin. The song topped the charts for weeks, but its lyrics provoked strong reactions from conservative circles, particularly the Vatican, leading some radio stations to boycott it. In 1975, Birkin starred in Gainsbourg's film of the same name and received a César Award nomination for Best Actress. After separating from Gainsbourg in 1980, she began a relationship with French director Jacques Doillon, appearing in many of his films while continuing her music career. She won the Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival in 1985 for her role in *Dust*. Despite their separation, Jane Birkin, still greatly influenced by Serge Gainsbourg, who died of a heart attack in 1991, occasionally performs his songs. Birkin dedicates her time to various charitable projects. Married to the renowned British composer John Barry (1933-2011) in 1965, Birkin had a daughter, Kate Barry (1967-2013), a successful photographer who died at age 46 after falling from the balcony of her apartment. Her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, which lasted from 1968 to 1980, resulted in the birth of Charlotte Gainsbourg in 1971, a notable figure in music and cinema. After ending her long relationship with Jacques Doillon in 1991, Birkin had another daughter, Lou Doillon (born 1982), also a well-known French actress.