Johnny is a fantastic support: Vanessa Paradis

French singer-turned-actor Vanessa Paradis, is probably best known as being the better half of Hollywood actor Johnny Depp and is responsible for the changed man that he is today. But many don’t know that Vanessa holds her own in France where she is quite a popular actor and singer. Her first success was the song 'Joe Le Taxi', which made her famous at the age of 14! From there she moved on to win the prestigious Ceasar award for her debut movie Noce Blanche, and a movie star was born. Here the actor talks about her upcoming romantic comedy Heartbreaker, Johnny Depp and her inspiration:

Q: What was your reaction when you first read the script?
A: The script made me laugh — I was charmed! Usually, I’m more drawn to dramatic scenarios but I liked the director’s vision, and I liked the idea of Romain Duris playing Alex, which was rather unexpected as he doesn’t usually act in this genre. When filming started I was scared I was playing the most discrete character.

Q: Was it a challenge to play in a movie standing at the crossroads of romantic comedy, spy movies and action?
A: I started acting being a bit anxious; while I’m not afraid of playing in a drama or expressing heart-breaking emotions, Heartbreaker is action-packed and dialogue needs to be spot on. If you overact, it can look ridiculous; you have to be subtle.

Q: You’ve done voice for an animated film, A Monster in Paris, you’ve got a singing career, you model and you act. How do you approach the work disciplines for each one of those?
A: As long as you’re fully present in what you’re doing at the moment, you’re doing it. It’s true, it would be really difficult to try on the same day to do this and this, which happens sometimes unfortunately because this is the way life works. But just be 100% there when you do what you do. We’re so lucky to do jobs that fulfill us and make us happy. We don’t go to work thinking okay, we’re working to put food in the fridge. We are working because we love what we do in all those disciplines. So, I go there because I want to be there. That helps a lot.

Q: What would be the downside of doing that, especially when sometimes everything come together at the same time?
A: The downside? You lose your mind, you lose hair and you just go crazy. But you look at the mountain and go “I’m going to do it!” and at the end of the day, you do it. Women are the real superheroes because they’re not just working. They have a life and everything. I’m super lucky because I come home and I don’t have to run errands and clean the house and do all that. Some women manage. How we do that, I don’t know.

Q: Heartbreaker has already opened in Europe and elsewhere with success. Do you feel confident that Indians will also enjoy it?
A: Of course, but you are never completely confident. Any screening I’ve seen of this film, I’m always worried that the audience will not like it. I saw some screenings here and a few at the Tribeca Film Festival and we had a really good reaction, so we hope  it might work here.

Q: How does it feel being married to Johnny Depp?
A: It feels great. Even though we don’t really get to be around much as we both are held up with work. But he’s a fantastic support.

Q: Any plans of working together?
A: Not as of yet. We have sang together, but not acted so far.

Q: Someone who inspires you in life?
A: I have been a huge fan of Marilyn Monroe, right from the time I was a kid. So she is been my idol.

Q: Can you talk about what you are coming up with next?
A: I’m going to be part of the next Jean-Marc Vallee movie. It’s called Cafe de Flore and it shoots partly in Paris.