Beauty Icon: Jane Birkin
Our beauty icon this week? Jane Birkin.
The English singer and actress was born in London on 14 December 1946.
A Londoner goes international
Jane Birkin got her first break in London in 1964, playing an untitled role in a film typical of "Swinging London", called "The Knack ... and How to Get It", which received a Palme d'Or at the 18th Cannes Film Festival. But her real success arrived in 1966 with the legendary film, "Blow Up", directed by Michelangelo Antonioni, which also received accolades at the Cannes Film Festival in 1967. The film featured Jane Birkin in the nude, which created quite a stir in the British film industry.
After her splash onto the London scene, Jane auditioned in France for the lead female role in "Slogan", directed by Pierre Grimblat. Though she did not speak a word of French, she won the role and co-starred with Serge Gainsbourg. It was the beginning of many collaborations between the two.
Perhaps the most memorable would be their steamy duet, "Je t'aime...moi non plus", which caused a scandal in three countries for its sexual explicitness! Needless to say, the pair went down in history as a mythical couple of the 70s.
Jane Birkin is mother to three daughters: the photographer Kate Barry, the actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Lou Doillon, the singer known for her debut album "Places".
A timeless beauty
Beauty icon par excellence, Jane's transgressive outfits marked a generation and her liberated attitude and carefree, natural style embodied the spirit of the times. Her short skirts, long hair with bangs and minimalist (bra-less) look inspired fashionistas of the era... not to mention album covers!
