Singer Jane Birkin is dead Photo: KEYSTONE/Martial Trezzini/picture alliance
From BZ/dpa
With the scandal song “Je t’aime, moi non plus” Jane Birkin became a star. Now the singer, actress and France’s favorite Englishwoman has died.
The British-French artist died at the age of 76, a spokesman for the city of Paris confirmed on Sunday to the German Press Agency.
Sung orgasm
Born in London and French by choice, she became world famous with the scandalous song “Je t’aime, moi non plus”.
She was in her early 20s when she moaned the song into the microphone with Serge Gainsbourg. The sung orgasm became a scandal and was banned in many countries. But her career began with the sleazy chanson in 1969 – and her relationship with the enfant terrible of the French music scene.
Their daughter, actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, was born two years later. The marriage broke up after more than ten years. Despite the separation, both continued to sing together. Along with Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin had some of her biggest hits, including “La danseuse,” another erotic song, and “Melody Nelson.”
The French-by-choice has also acted in over 50 films. In Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Blow Up” she played a photo model – wearing only knee socks. In the tingling and erotic thriller “The Swimming Pool” she can be seen alongside Romy Schneider and Alain Delon.
The musician and performer was the favorite Englishwoman of the French, whom they simply called “La Birkin”. She was born in London on December 14, 1946 to actress Judy Campbell. She left England after her divorce from film composer John Barry in 1968, whom she married in 1965 when she was just 19.