Vanessa Paradis is a famous French singer, model, and actress born on December 22, 1972. She became a star when she was just 14 because of her hit song “Joe le Taxi” in 1987. At 18, she won some big awards in France for both singing and acting.
Some of her notable movies include “Élisa” in 1995 with Gérard Depardieu, “Witch Way Love” in 1997 with Jean Reno, and “Girl on the Bridge” in 1999. She’s also known for her singing, especially for her album Variations sur le même t’aime which got her a Victoires de la Musique award.
She’s been a big inspiration for many musicians and songwriters who worked with her on different albums. She’s also a well-known model, appearing on many magazine covers like Vogue and Elle. Since 1991, she’s been the face of Chanel chosen by Karl Lagerfeld himself. In 2011, she got an award for her contributions to arts and letters, and in 2015 she was honored with a knighthood for her service to France.
| Full Name | Vanessa Chantal Paradis |
| Date of Birth | December 22, 1972 |
| Place of Birth | Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France |
| Occupation | Singer, Model, Actress |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.6 m) |
| Spouse | Samuel Benchetrit |
| Children | Lily-Rose Depp, John “Jack” Christopher Depp III |
| Net Worth | $100 Million |
Vanessa Paradis’s Early Life and Education
Vanessa Paradis grew up in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, close to Paris. Her parents, André and Corinne Paradis, worked as interior designers. When she was young, she took dance classes, started learning piano, and even went to auditions to be a child model. When she was seven, she got her first taste of fame by appearing on a local TV talent show called L’École des Fans, where kids could showcase their singing skills.
Career
Vanessa Paradis started her music career in the 1980s with her first single “La Magie des surprises-parties” but it didn’t become very popular. Her big break came in 1987 at the age of 14 with the song “Joe le taxi” which was a huge hit in France and even reached number three in the UK. This song was part of her first album called M&J.
She left high school at 16 to focus on her singing career and released another album in 1990 called “Variations sur le même t’aime” which included a cover of the song “Walk on the Wild Side.” She also won an award for best singer that year.
In addition to her music, Vanessa Paradis ventured into acting and won a César Award for Most Promising Actress in 1990 for her role in “Noce Blanche.” She also did some modeling work for Chanel appearing in an advertisement in 1991.
Between 1992 and 1996, she moved to the US to work with Lenny Kravitz on an English album. This album named after her did well in France and had a hit single called “Be My Baby.” She went on tour internationally in 1993 and also starred in a successful film called “Élisa” in 1994.
Back in 1997, Paradis acted in a movie called “Un amour de sorcière” alongside Jeanne Moreau and Jean Reno. After that, she starred in “Une chance sur deux” with Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo. Then in March 1999 “La fille sur le Pont” was directed by Patrice Leconte. This film was unique because it was shot and released in black and white. In 2004 she worked with Chanel to promote their new handbags called Ligne Cambon.
The following year in 2005, she modeled for Chanel again this time for The New Mademoiselle handbag. In 2008, she did some modeling for Miu Miu. Also in 2006, she was part of a French children’s album and concert called “Le Soldat Rose.”
From 2007 until now Vanessa Paradis has been quite active. She released a new album called “Divinidylle” in 2007 and started her tour in October of that year. The tour was filmed and a DVD/CD of it was released. She also won two Les Victoires de la Musique awards for this album in 2008. She continued with projects like a greatest hits CD named “Best of Vanessa Paradis” which had the catchy jingle “I Love Paris in the Springtime.” She also starred in the animated film “Un monstre à Paris” released in 2010.
In 2011, she acted in Jean-Marc Vallée’s film “Café de Flore” playing the role of a single mother in the 1960s. This role earned her a Genie Award for Best Actress. She also released an acoustic album called “Une nuit à Versailles” in 2010 and a set of DVDs called “Anthology” in the same year.
Vanessa Paradis became the face of Chanel’s new lipstick Rouge Coco in 2010. She also represented their new handbag line Ranger. Her international tour in 2011 included performances across various countries. In 2013, she released a new album called “Love Songs” produced by Benjamin Biolay. The album featured contributions from various artists including Johnny Depp and Lily-Rose Depp.
In 2016, she acted alongside her daughter Lily-Rose in “Yoga Hosers” and was part of the main competition jury at the Cannes Film Festival. Then in September 2021, she made her theater debut in a play called “Maman” directed by her husband at the Edouard VII Theatre in Paris. She was even nominated for the Molière Award for her performance in the play.
Net Worth
Vanessa Paradis has an estimated net worth of $100 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Vanessa Paradis’s net worth primarily comes from her successful career as a singer, actress, and model. She gained fame as a singer in her teenage years with the hit song “Joe le taxi.” Throughout her career, she has released several albums and singles that have contributed to her earnings.
Additionally, Paradis has acted in numerous films, gaining recognition for her roles in movies like “Noce Blanche” and “Heartbreaker.” Her work as a model, appearing in campaigns for Chanel, also adds to her financial success. Combined, these ventures in music, acting, and modeling have established Vanessa Paradis as a multi-talented artist with a substantial net worth.
Personal Life
Back in 1991, Calvin Klein asked Vanessa Paradis to be the main face for his new ads, but she said no. Instead, Kate Moss got the spotlight and became famous because of it.
Then, in 2001, Carla Bruni wrote some songs for Vanessa, but Vanessa Paradis thought they were too personal. She told Carla to record them herself. So, Carla did, and those songs became part of her album “Quelqu’un m’a dit,” which came out in 2002.
Jumping to 2014, Vanessa Paradis’s song “Mi amor” was picked for a TV ad campaign for Chloé’s Love Story fragrance. Mélanie Laurent directed it.
