Jane Birkin, the beloved and unconventional English actress, singer-songwriter, and fashion icon, passed away at the age of 76, leaving behind a lasting legacy. Birkin attained her iconic status through her successful film roles and songs, as well as inspiring the world-renowned designer bag, Hermès Birkin. She was a popular figure in her home country, Britain, and a cultural treasure in France, where she lived for many years. French President Emmanuel Macron described her as a "complete artist" and a "French icon" who “sang the most beautiful words in [their] language.”
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Birkin gained widespread recognition for her personal and artistic collaboration with French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. In 1969, they recorded the iconic track "Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus," which was banned in multiple countries and condemned by the Vatican due to its sexually explicit lyrics. In addition to her artistic accomplishments, Birkin also became a fashion icon in the 1970s, when she was, known for her flared jeans, mini dresses, and unique fringe.
If you have seen Birkin's movies and heard her perform songs including her self-composed tracks, you may be confused by her image portrayed by the mass media, where she was often described as an “It girl”, “muse”, or “fashion icon”. The stories surrounding Birkin in the media presented her unique qualities and charm as a natural gift and a beauty that would show itself only after being discovered by others. These narratives did not acknowledge her as a proactive creator, but a creation by others. However, Birkin's performances, voice, and musical creations conveyed her vitality and pain in a touching way.
![Jane Birkin](https://img.peliplat.com/api/resize/v1?imagePath=peliplat/article/20230729/c0c2f1424d4c05045a636cff5d4b7e00.png&source=s3-peliplat)
If we think of Birkin only as the moon that reflects sunlight, we cannot help but wonder how she managed to continue composing and singing for several decades after Serge Gainsbourg's passing. Who is Jane Birkin beyond her media image? What makes her so captivating? And how does she feel about being an icon? If you share the same questions, I highly recommend you watch two films about Jane Birkin: Jane B. for Agnes V. directed by Agnès Varda, and Jane by Charlotte directed by Birkin's daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg. Amazingly, the directors actually appeared in their own films, breaking down the hierarchy between the persons behind and in front of the lens and allowing viewers to know Jane Birkin from a female perspective.
Jane Birkin Is Everything
The collaboration between Varda and Birkin began with a conversation in which Birkin confided in Varda about her apprehension about turning 40. Varda reassured Birkin that 40 is a wonderful age and suggested that it was the perfect time to do her portrait. Thus, Jane B. for Agnes V. was conceived. Varda reportedly spent over a year with Birkin and her family to produce the film, during which a second feature film Kung-fu Master!, was filmed unplanned.
Jane B. for Agnes V. is full of Varda's imagination. It was created by combining fictitious movie scenes and interview clips with Birkin. Birkin took on multiple roles including a seductive woman and Joan of Arc, and even imitated the renowned comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy, to pay homage to them. In Varda's perspective, Birkin also played her actual self during the interview, hence blurring the lines between fact and fiction. Through the roles she embodied, you can catch glimpses of Birkin's characteristics and witness her secretive side during the interview.
![Jane Birkin and Agnes Varda](https://img.peliplat.com/api/resize/v1?imagePath=peliplat/article/20230729/adad8c50f5fa3525ab3c782ca118daed.webp&source=s3-peliplat)
But that is not to say that she was lying in front of the cameras. Instead, Birkin was unreservedly honest about her past. She admitted to struggling with her skinny figure during her teenage years and even resorting to stuffing her bra with padding to create a fuller bust. Birkin also felt embarrassed about her flat chest. In addition, she confessed about experiencing insomnia since the age of 16 and being ridiculed by the British media for her non-speaking nude role in Blow-Up, which earned her the nickname "Jane Blow-Up Birkin". She was already a mother of three girls then and had weathered two public relationships that were under constant media scrutiny. However, Birkin's honesty, vulnerability and casual demeanor in the film were a stark contrast to her usual sexy and seductive public image.
Varda, who has always been concerned in issues involving women, marginalized groups, and the society, noticed during the interview that Birkin rarely looked directly at the camera. Birkin felt uncomfortable facing the camera, but also candidly admitted that she enjoyed being in front of one and wanted others to like her and admire her beauty. After identifying Birkin’s dilemma, Varda expressed her opinion of her while directly facing the camera. She said, "Your desire to be both famous and anonymous has turned you into a mass fantasy. That's why I was drawn to you and wanted to make this film." Varda's comments not only explained why Birkin received so much media attention, but also freed her from the image that was created, captured on the cameras, and even fantasized about. Throughout the film, Varda's lens highlighted the consistency of Birkin's contradicting character. She did not conform or please when facing the camera, but it was precisely this contradiction between honesty and concealment, naturalness and putting on an act, and the desire to be seen and the embarrassment of being watched that made her unique on-screen and gave her the potential to play any role.
![Image description](https://img.peliplat.com/api/resize/v1?imagePath=peliplat/article/20230729/a9be82a622c861d1215a8c6ff624692a.jpeg&source=s3-peliplat)
In 2016, Birkin said, “I did Varda’s two films at 40. It was a great age, and, yes, of course, like any actress, I wanted to be funny and sad. It seemed to me that, at last, I could play anyone. At 40, I looked ordinary, and I would no longer be a just a pretty face—if I dared.” Birkin's uniqueness lied in her ability to embody any character while still remaining true to herself. She never concealed her dilemmas, vulnerabilities, sincerity and individuality, which made her a valuable and rare asset in the industry.
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