An enormously successful French singer-actress-model, Vanessa Paradis is perhaps best known for her hit single "Joe le Taxi" (1987), her stunning film debut in "Noce Blanche" (1990) and her controversial ads for Coco perfume (1991). Paradis launched her career as a pop singer with her first album "M & J" when she was just 16, following that up with the equally popular recording "Variations sur le meme t'aime" in 1990. Capitalizing on her popularity as a singer, the blonde beauty decided to take a crack at movie acting, accepting the pivotal role of a young woman whose teacher rejects her after a passionate love affair in "Noce Blanche". For her debut performance as a Lolita-like nymph Paradis was awarded the Cesar for Most Promising Newcomer-Female. Her gorgeous face and screen presence did not escape the notice of marketing executives at Chanel who quickly signed her to star in their new campaign for Coco perfume (1991). Critics balked at the ads which featured the glamorous Paradis dressed as a bird and swinging from a trapeze in a gilded cage while a fluffy, white cat looked on.In addition to juggling her modeling responsibilities, Paradis also found time to record her third album, the self-titled "Vanessa Paradis" (1992), which had more of a 1970s pop and disco sound then her earlier, more contemporary works and featured tracks on which she collaborated with American rock star Lenny Kravitz. After the success of her third recording, Paradis launched a European tour, playing 70 concerts before returning to France to star in another film, the drama "Elisa" (1995), in which she played a girl placed in an orphanage after her mother committed suicide. Once again, Paradis' performance garnered raves from the critics and she was flooded with film offers. Instead of playing another brooding teen, however, Paradis opted to show audiences her playful side in the role of a witch in the romantic comedy "Un Amour de sorciere" (1997), following that up with a role in the action comedy "1 Chance sur 2" (1998). 1999 saw Paradis give a fine performance as a heartbroken woman on the edge--literally--in "La Fille du pont/Girl on the Bridge". In this uneven comedy drama, she played a woman who meets a knife thrower just as she is about to leap to her death from a bridge. The man asks her to join his touring act as his target and she accepts, sparking an odd, but close relationship. Paradis was next seen in Terry Gilliam's fable "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" (lensed 2000) with her off-screen companion Johnny Depp.
Profession(s):
Actor, singer, model
Sometimes Credited As:
Family
daughter:Lily-Rose Melody Depp (born on May 27, 1999; father, Johnny Depp)
father:Andre Paradis (born c. 1940)
sister:Alison Paradis (born c. 1982)
uncle:Didier Pain (managed Paradis' career)
Companion(s)
Florent Pagny
, Companion
, ```..born c. 1961; lived together from 1990 to c. 1995
Johnny Depp
, Companion
, ```..together since c. 1998
Serge Gainsbourg
, Companion
, ```..reported to have been romantically involved during the making of her second album; Paradis has never revealed the exact nature of their relationship; he died in March 1991 at age 62
Cesar Most Promising Newcomer-Female "Noce Blanche" 1990
Prix Romy Schneider 1990
1999 Starred in "La Fille sur le pont"/"Girl on the Bridge" opposite Daniel Auteuil (released in the USA in 2000)
1998 Co-starred with Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo in "1 Chance sur 2"
1997 Had featured role in "Un Amour de sorciere", directed by Rene Manzor
1995 Starred in second film, Jean Becker's "Elisa" opposite Gerard Depardieu
1993 - 1994 Gave 70 concerts in Europe; recorded fourth album "Vanessa Paradis Live" at L'Oylmpia in Paris
1992 Third album "Vanessa Paradis" hit record stores; this one had a 1970s sound and featured tracks on which she and Lenny Kravitz collaborated
1991 Signed a 3 million franc contract with Chanel to be the new face of their perfume Coco, photographed by Jean-Paul Goude
1990 Released second album "Variations sur le meme t'aime"
1990 Won a Cesar for most promising actress for her film debut "Noce Blanche/White Wedding"
1988 First pop album "M & J" is released
1987 Released hit single "Joe le Taxi", written by Langloff and Roda-Gil
1985 Recorded an unreleased demo "Les magie des surprises parties" under uncle's guidance; caught attention of composer Franck Langolff and Etienne Roda-Gil
1980 Entered by uncle Didier Pain in the French TV amateur talent show "L'Ecole des fans"; performed "Emilie Jolie"
Appeared in controversial Coco ads dressed as a bird, swinging in a gilded cage while a fluffy white cat looks on
Co-starred with boyfriend Johnny Depp in Terry Gilliam's "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote"; began filming in 2000 but suspended when lead actor Jean Rochefort was injured