Jane Birkin & the Birkin Bag

Born in 1946 Jane Birkin, 63. English actress, model, singer and director. She is best known for her duet, Je t'aime... moi non plus with Serge Gainsbourg in 1969.

Birkin starred in the Agatha Christie films Death on the Nile (1978) and Evil Under the Sun (1982), and recorded several albums, including Baby Alone in Babylone, Amours des Feintes,Lolita Go Home and Rendez-vous. She won Female Artist of the Year in the 1992 Victoires de la Musique.

Jane Bikin & Briggite Bardot

She had a passionate and creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg — they met on the set of Slogan. They separated in 1980. Their daughter is actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg. She was born on July 22, 1971.

On September 6, 1982 she gave birth to her third daughter, Lou Doillon, from her relationship with the director Jacques Doillon.

Interview with Jane Birkin for ELLE.uk:

"Having a bag named after me was very flattering. I was flying to London from Paris in the 1980s and found myself sitting next to Jean-Louis Dumas, the CEO of Hermes. My Hermes organiser was too full so everything fell out next to him. He told me I should put items in the pockets and I told him, "If Hermes put pockets in, I would". He said, "I am Mr Hernes and I'll put pockets in for you." A month later, he sent over a new design and asked if he could call it the Birkin bag. The proceeds from its sale have gone to charities, so it's all been a rather useful bag."

Jane was awarded an OBE in 2001 for her charity work. 

Jane with her Birkin bag and her Bulldog Dora

"My bulldog Dora travels with me everywhere I go. Her idea of bliss is sleeping on the sofa, so trains and cars are hell. She's most devoted."

"My life so far has been a series of accidents that have been taken me on an interesting route. I never had a master plan, I've just been fortunate."

Source: ELLE.uk Magazine March 2010
www.janebirkin.net