A look at the late Jane Birkin's daughters Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lou Doillon and Kate Barry who passed away

I will certainly never forget Jane Birkin, she has been both a fashion and beautyicon of mine for many years and her passing will not diminish my interest in the French-English star. Jane Birkin leaves behind two daughters, musician and actress Charlotte Gainsbourg (her father is Serge Gainsbourg) and Lou Doillon, a musician and model for the likes of Mango and H & M.

Jane Birkin was also mother to Kate Barry (her father was the composer John Barry), but she tragically passed away in 2013. In 2013, Sky News reported that “Kate Barry, the daughter of James Bond composer John Barry and actress Jane Birkin, has died after falling from her Paris apartment.” The article went on to say that “It is believed that antidepressants were found and that the front door was locked.”

In 2020, Jane Birkin spoke to The Times not only about her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg but about the death of her daughter, Kate Barry and singing about her on her album Oh! Pardon tu dormais (Oh sorry you were sleeping). The article explains that “The song features the line “Ma fille s’est foutue en l’air”- loosely “my daughter f***ed herself up….” which felt obscene, but also fair,” she writes in the album notes.”

Charlotte Gainsbourg had previously said in an interview in 2017 that her mother found it very difficult to come to terms with the death of her daughter, Kate. “(She) was gone for years,” Charlotte said. “Really gone. She was not there.” Charlotte went on to say “I mean, she wouldn’t get up. If you told her to come over, she would, but she didn’t talk, not to my children or to anyone.”

Charlotte Gainsbourg, who was born in London, has starred in such films as Parole et musique (she played the daughter of iconic actress Catherine Deneuve), Merci la Vie, Aux yeux du monde, Ma femme est une actrice, Melancholia in 2011 and Nymphomaniac in 2013. She also made the documentary ‘Jane by Charlotte’ in 2021, about her mother. 

The late Jane Birkin’s other daughter, Lou Doillon, whose father is French director Jacques Doillon, is both a model and musician and released her debut album Places in 2012 to both critical acclaim and commercial success. As well as modelling for the likes of Mango and H & M, she also became an ambassador for Givenchy.

Jane Birkin, inspired the iconic Hermès Birkin bag that is loved by the likes of Kate Moss, Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham.