Pete Doherty takes dance lessons for French film

British rocker Peter Doherty, who is to make his acting debut in Paris this month, said he is taking dance lessons to prepare for his new role.   

Doherty, 31, is set to start shooting the movie about 19th century French poet Alfred de Musset on Dec 27 opposite  French actress and musician Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of the late celebrity singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.                                           

"Today I had my first waltz lesson, in preparation for the forthcoming film: Confession d'un enfant du siecle," Doherty wrote in a posting on his new blog Albionrooms.com.                              

"My character must display natural grace and poise - as was expected of a young aristocrat and dandy of 1830's (sic) French society," the Babyshambles frontman added.  

"I was going to film the lesson, but it didn't seem apropriate. The teacher was just as I had imagined - straight backed, horsewhip in hand, and a brutal perfectionist. What a day!"         

The film will be based on de Musset's autobiograpical novel which chronicles his tumultuous love affair with French writer Georges Sand.

Former fellow Libertines frontman Carl Barat made his own acting debut in London last February opposite actress Sadie Frost in Sam Shepard's play Fool For Love.