Vanessa Paradis biography

She played more than 70 concerts, and released the album Vanessa Paradis Live (1994) before returning to France to star in the drama Elisa (1995) opposite Gerard Depardieu. Once again, Paradis' performance garnered rave reviews from critics, and propelled the starlet firmly into the ranks of A-list actors. After the success of this film, Paradis devoted herself almost entirely to acting.

Paradis, known for her dark, dramatic roles,

surprised audiences with her next film choice: the romantic comedy Un Amour de Sorciere (1997) (Witch Way Love). She followed up her performance with the action comedy Une Chance Sux Deux (1998). That same year, Paradis met American actor Johnny Depp while he was in France filming his new movie The Ninth Gate (1999). They instantly hit it off, and by the end of the year the couple announced that they were expecting their first child.

In 1999 Paradis managed to balance pregnancy and a new film project. She played a woman on the edge of death in the movie La Fille du Pont (Girl on the Bridge), which became an arthouse classic in both France and the U.S. That same year, on May 27, 1999, Paradis gave birth to daughter Lily-Rose Melody Depp.

Inspired by her foray into family life, Paradis created the 2000 album, Bliss. Companion Johnny Depp played guitar on several of the tracks, and the voice of Lily Rose was also featured on the album. Bliss was an instant hit and, following the success of her past album, also hit No. 1 on the French charts. She released her second live album, Au Zenith, in 2001. The next year, in April of 2002, she and Depp welcomed son, John Christopher "Jack" Depp III.

Paradis continued to act, model, and sing, appearing in the film Mon Ange (2004), while also promoting Chanel's new line of handbags, Ligne Cambon, and working on a new album.

In 2007, she stepped back into the spotlight with her long-awaited album Divinidylle, which earned the multi-talented Paradis two Les Victoires de la Musique awards and resulted in a successful music tour to promote the album. That same year she also appeared in the film La clef (2007).

Paradis became the new face of fashion line Miu Miu in 2008, shortly after the company released Kirsten Dunst from the campaign. Paradis is also currently at work on the films The Midwife Crisis and Un monstre a Paris April which will be released in 2010.

Paradis, Depp and their children currently split their time between homes in Los Angeles, Paris, New York and the Bahamas.

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