Tragic details of Jane Birkin’s final moments are revealed as it emerges that she spent a night alone for the first time in two years when she died trying to regain her independence while battling cancer

Singer and actress Jane Birkin passed away on her first night alone for nearly two years while trying to regain her independence while battling cancer, it emerged today.

The London-born 76-year-old was engaged in “a fierce battle” against the disease in her adopted France, but wanted to return to a normal life rather than be surrounded by caregivers all day.

Her body was found by one of them on Sunday at Mrs Birkin’s home in Paris, after she expressed a wish to spend Saturday night alone.

Ms Birkin had also said she wanted to perform again and had been looking forward to her next performance at the Olympia concert hall in the French capital.

It came when burglars tried to break into the late star’s house in the early hours of Wednesday morning, a Parisian police source said. BFMTV. A childhood friend in the residence reported voices outside the house entrance and police dispatched to the scene found damage to the front door frame.

Jane Birkin (pictured in 1960) was involved in ‘a fierce battle’ against cancer but wanted to return to a normal life instead of being surrounded by caregivers all day

A statement from her family on Wednesday read: ‘Jane Birkin passed away after 16 years of a fierce battle with illness.

“Since her stroke in September 2021, her family and amazing caregivers have been by her side day and night.

‘Since a few days she was walking again and was motivated by reschedule her Olympia performance.

“The first night alone turned out to be her last. She had decided.’

The statement, confirming death by ‘natural causes’, was released by Ms Birkin’s manager, Olivier Gluzman, on behalf of her daughters, Charlotte Gainsbourg, 51, and Lou Doillon, 40.

Ms Birkin had described her leukemia – which she was diagnosed with in 1998 – as a ‘not very painful cancer’, but in May she canceled a series of concerts when things got worse.

She then said, “I’ve always been a great optimist, and I realize I need some time to get back on stage and with you.”

Mrs. Birkin was best known as the former lover of French singer Serge Gainsbourg, whom she first met in 1969 when she co-starred in the French satirical romantic comedy Slogan.

Jane Birkin (pictured in 1968) was one of the UK’s best-known 1960s sensations, known for her romantic affairs, 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

Funeral directors removed Jane Birkin’s body on Sunday as the French capital mourns her death

Other fans chose to leave a photo as a way to pay their respects to the iconic actress

Mrs Birkin was 21 at the time and had moved to France with her toddler daughter Kate Barry after a brief marriage to the James Bond composer John Barry.

Mrs 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 in the UK Charts.

This despite being banned from a number of stations, as it was considered too risqué.

After her death was announced Sunda, fans left floral tributes outside the cult film star’s home in the French capital, before morticians were pictured removing her body.

French President Emmanuel Macron led the tribute to Ms Birkin on Sunday, posting on Twitter: ‘Because she embodied freedom, because she sang the most beautiful words of our language, Jane Birkin was a French icon.

A complete performer, her voice was as sweet as her engagements were fiery.

“She leaves us tunes and images that will never leave us.”

Jane Birkin is photographed with her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg at the Cesar Film Awards in Paris in February this year

Jane Birkin being photographed at L’Institut Franco-Japonais de Tokyo in March 2013

Jane Birkin is pictured in 1996. The London-born 76-year-old was involved in ‘a fierce battle’ against the disease in her adopted France

Rima Abdul Malak, France’s culture minister, also paid tribute, tweeting ‘the most French of the Britons is gone’.

She continued, “Jane B was mischievous, sassy elegance, the never-out-of-date emblem of an entire era, a murmuring voice that remains our idol.

“A woman at heart, devoted, whose disappearance leaves us alone in Babylone,” referring to one of Birkin’s songs.

Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and British Ambassador to France Menna Rawlings describe Birkin as ‘the most Parisian of the English’ and ‘the most French of the British artists’ respectively.