Farewell to a Beloved Englishwoman

Paris, July 24, 2023 - A diverse crowd, including both anonymous individuals and numerous celebrities, gathered on the morning of July 24 to pay their final respects to the beloved Englishwoman. The funeral of Jane Birkin took place at the Saint-Roch church in Paris.

A Final Resting Place in Montparnasse Cemetery

Behind barriers, the public had the opportunity to follow the ceremony on a giant screen and listen to the heartfelt speeches given by Lou and Charlotte: "Mom, thank you for never conforming, for always being extraordinary and unconventional throughout all of life's adventures." It was an intimate and profound tribute to a tender and unconventional icon, a star cherished by all. Following her cremation, Jane Birkin was laid to rest in the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris.

The Influential Men in Jane Birkin's Life

Jane Birkin, renowned for her contributions to fashion, music, and cinema, also made a name for herself through her activism for various causes such as the abolition of the death penalty, the right to abortion, same-sex marriage, and environmental issues. While some may remember the British star for her past love affairs, it is undeniable that the men in her life played significant roles in her career. At the age of 19, Jane Birkin married English composer John Barry, with whom she had a daughter named Kate. However, the most iconic of her partners was undoubtedly Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she had a tumultuous relationship for over a decade, from 1969 to 1980. The renowned French singer is the father of her second daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg. After their separation, Jane Birkin found love once again in the arms of director Jacques Doillon, who fathered her third and final daughter, Lou Doillon.

Olivier Rolin, Jane Birkin's "Last Love"

In addition to her well-known relationships, Jane Birkin had a lesser-known romance with Olivier Rolin. Only five months younger than her, the 76-year-old writer was her "last love," as she revealed in an interview with Libération in 2013. "He's an extraordinary man. I believe he would go to the ends of the earth to help me if I were in trouble, even today," Jane Birkin had expressed five years earlier in Elle magazine in 2008. She further added, "We made a pact to meet again in twenty years when we're old and frail, when he's finished exploring the women who captivate him, and I've finished exploring the depths of the male mind." Unfortunately, these long-awaited reunions never came to fruition.

Olivier Rolin's Literary Achievements

The son of a military doctor, Olivier Rolin spent his formative years in Senegal. He obtained his high school diploma in Dakar before returning to Paris for further studies. He gained admission to the prestigious École Normale Supérieure but was later expelled when he refused to take the philosophy aggregation exam. In the 1970s, he embarked on a career as a freelance journalist before venturing into the world of publishing by joining Le Seuil. In 1983, he published his debut novel, "Phénomène futur." Throughout his career, he has authored nearly thirty books, encompassing novels, travelogues, and essays. Olivier Rolin notably received the Prix Femina in 1994 for his work "Port-Soudan." Among his notable works, we can also mention "Tigre en papier," which won the Prix France Culture, and "Un chasseur de lions," which was nominated for the Goncourt, Médicis, and Renaudot prizes in 2008.

Words of the day

Tender : Tendre

Unconventional : Non conventionnel