Singer and actress Jane Birkin died on her first night alone in nearly two years as she tried to regain her independence while battling cancer, news broke today.
The 76-year-old, born in London, faced a ‘fierce battle’ against the disease in her adoptive France, but wanted to return to a normal life rather than be surrounded by carers all day.
Her body was found by one of them at Ms Birkin’s Paris home on Sunday, after she had expressed a wish to spend Saturday night alone.
Ms Birkin also said she wanted to start acting again and was looking forward to her next appearance at the Olympia concert hall in the French capital.
The revelations came as it emerged that the burglars tried to break into Birkin’s home in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
A Parisian police source told BFMTV that a friend of the star who was staying at his house called them at the address and heard voices outside the front door.
Officers dispatched to the scene noted damage to the front door frame, possibly caused by a break-in attempt.
The body of Jane Birkin (pictured from December last year) was found by one of her caretakers at her Paris home on Sunday, after she had expressed a desire to spend Saturday night alone.
Jane Birkin (pictured in 1960) faced a ‘fierce battle’ with cancer, but wanted to return to a normal life instead of being surrounded by carers all day.
A statement released by her family on Wednesday read: ‘Jane Birkin has passed away after 16 years of a fierce battle with disease.
‘Since his stroke in September 2021, his family and wonderful carers have been by his side day and night.
“For a few days, she was walking again and was motivated to reschedule her performance at Olympia.
The first night alone turned out to be the last. She had decided.
The statement, which confirmed death from “natural causes”, was issued by Ms Birkin’s manager, Olivier Gluzman, on behalf of her daughters, Charlotte Gainsbourg, 51, and Lou Doillon, 40.
Ms Birkin had described her leukaemia, which she was diagnosed with in 1998, as a “not very painful cancer”, but in May she canceled a series of concerts when it worsened.
She said at the time: “I’ve always been a huge optimist, and I realize I still need a little bit of time before I can get back on stage and with you.”
Ms. Birkin was best known as the former lover of French singer Serge Gainsbourg, whom she met in 1969 while co-starring in the French satirical romantic comedy Slogan.
Jane Birkin (pictured in 1968) was one of the best-known sensations of the 1960s in the UK, known for her romantic adventures, striking looks and fashion sense.
Ms Birkin had described her leukaemia, which she was diagnosed with in 1998, as a “not very painful cancer”. She is pictured in 1969.
On Sunday, undertakers took away the body of Jane Birkin as the French capital mourned her death.
Other fans chose to leave a photo as a way to pay tribute to the iconic actress.
Ms Birkin was 21 at the time and had moved to France with her young daughter, Kate Barry, after a brief marriage to James Bond composer John Barry.
Ms. Birkin and Gainsbourg’s sexually explicit song, ‘Je t’aime… moi non plus’ (I love you, nor me) was a worldwide hit, reaching number one on the UK charts.
This was despite the fact that it was banned from several stations, because it was considered too risqué.
After his death was announced in Sunda, fans laid floral tributes outside the cult film star’s home in the French capital, before morticians were photographed carrying his body away.
French President Emmanuel Macron led tributes to Ms Birkin on Sunday, posting on Twitter: “Because she embodied freedom, because she sang the most beautiful words in our language, Jane Birkin was a French icon.”
‘A complete artist, her voice was as sweet as her commitments were fiery.
‘She leaves us melodies and images that will never leave us.’
Jane Birkin is pictured with her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg in February this year at the Cesar Film Awards in Paris.
Jane Birkin appears at L’Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo in March 2013
Jane Birkin appears in 1996. The 76-year-old Londoner was involved in a ‘fierce battle’ against the disease in her adoptive France.
Rima Abdul Malak, France’s culture minister, also paid tribute, tweeting “the most French of Brits gone.”
She continued: ‘Jane B was mischievous, cheeky elegance, the never-out-of-fashion emblem of an entire era, a whispery voice that remains our idol.
“A woman at heart, committed, whose disappearance leaves us alone in Babylon,” referencing one of Birkin’s songs.
The Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, and the British Ambassador to France, Menna Rawlings, respectively described Birkin as “the most Parisian of the English” and “the most French of the British artists”.
I am Rakesh Sharma, I associated with Elite News as an Editor, since 2021. I take care of all the news operations like content, budget, hiring and policy making.