My Favourite Interviews - Jane Birkin

"Tales from a very minor celebrity"

Hi everyone, and welcome to episode 7 of this new season of Tales From a very minor celebrity, a delve into my celebrity archive a look back at some of my very favourite interviews from my career in radio and TV….

This week you’ll hear an interview I did with a woman who has a handbag named after her and recorded one of the most iconic love songs of all time, Je t’aime…she is Jane Birkin.

Born in London Birkin began her career as an actress, appearing in minor roles until she met Serge Gainsbourg while co-starring with him in Slogan, which marked the beginning of their long working and personal relationship.

The duo released their debut album Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg (1969), and Birkin also appeared in the controversial film Je t'aime moi non plus (1976) under Gainsbourg's direction.

Birkin would attain further acting credits in the Agatha Christie adaptations Death on the Nile (1978), and Evil Under the Sun (1982).

After separating from Gainsbourg in 1980, Birkin continued to work as both an actress and a singer, appearing in various independent films and recording numerous solo albums.

Birkin has lived mainly in France since the 1970s. She has three grown up children and In addition to her acting and musical credits, she lent her name to the famous Hermès Birkin handbag.

When we met in 2004 she was promoting her latest album rendezvous but it was that song Je t’aime that I started by asking her about….does she ever get fed up talking about it?