She had a prolific career as an actress, mostly in French cinema. A native of London, Birkin began her career as an actress, appearing in minor roles in Michelangelo Antonioni 's Blowup and Kaleidoscope In she met Serge Gainsbourg while co-starring with him in Slogan , which marked the beginning of a years-long working and personal relationship. Birkin lived mainly in France from the late s onwards and acquired French citizenship.
After separating from Gainsbourg in , Birkin continued to work both as an actress and a singer, appearing in various independent films and recording numerous solo albums. In , she starred in the Academy Award -nominated short film La femme et le TGV , which she said would be her final film role.
Her mother, Judy Mary Campbell , was an actress best known for her work on stage, whose family was acquainted with the family of Margaret Thatcher while living in Grantham. Birkin was raised in Chelsea [ 12 ] and described herself as a "shy English girl". The others said I was half boy, half girl. I had no breasts, not even a developing bosom. It was horrible.
At the age of 17 she met composer John Barry , whom she married in and with whom she had her first daughter, Kate , in After Barry left for the United States, the couple divorced in and Birkin returned to live with her family in London.
Birkin emerged in the Swinging London scene of the s, appearing in an uncredited part in The Knack At the time the movie gained notoriety because of Birkin's nude scene, which she later said she did because John Barry had told her she would not have the courage to show up naked on set. In she auditioned for the lead female role in the French film Slogan After filming Slogan , Birkin relocated to France permanently. I just finished Slogan and was due to go back to England. She later stated: "Without my accent, I would have had a different career.
