Born in the United Kingdom, Jane Birkin (1946–2023) moved to Paris towards the end of the 1960s, where she left her mark as a multifaceted cultural icon. An actor, director, singer, composer, model and activist, this “most French of British artists” to this day remains a symbol of eroticism and freedom, innocence and controversy.

Jane Birkin began her career in film while still in England, with small roles in emblematic films including Blow-Up (1966), the first English-language film by the master Michelangelo Antonioni — in which she appeared in a nude scene that caused a scandal in the country.

A few years later, she began to work in France and met Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she would establish a prolific artistic relationship that continued even after the couple’s separation. Over the decades, Birkin’s vibrant and extensive filmography explored diverse genres spanning the mainstream and auteur spheres, including collaborations with filmmakers like Jacques Deray, Jacques Doillon, Agnès Varda, Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Rivette and James Ivory. In 2017, she took on the role of director for Boxes. In parallel, Birkin dedicated herself to music, releasing several albums; became a fashion icon (lending her name to the famous Hermès handbag); and was an activist for social justice.

Over the course of a month, we present a selection of pivotal films that chart and explain the different stages in the life of Jane Birkin, an all-round artist and emblem of a generation.