Actor and singer Jane Birkin was described for decades as the epitome of French style, though the star was born in London to British parents. But as a resident of France since the late 1960s, her casual, high-low look was often characterized as the definition of French style, on and off the screen.
Birkin died on July 16, 2023, at the age of 76. After a career that spanned seven decades, she’s been photographed countless times, both as a model and on the street.
Born Jane Mallory Birkin on December 14, 1946, Birkin’s career began on the London stage. She married composer John Barry in 1965, and after their parting in 1968, she transitioned to a career in film.
In 1968, she starred in Slogan, alongside French singer and actor Serge Gainsbourgh. Speaking with Vogue France in 2018, Birkin said that “The film saved me and enabled me to stay in France,” where she’d remain for the rest of her life. The movie also introduced her to Gainsbourgh, with whom she’d maintain a personal and professional partnership for over a decade.
