Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis were in a relationship for 14 years until their separation in 2012.

Despite Depp’s high standing in the box office during their time together, the couple maintained a low-profile presence in Hollywood. This was largely attributed to their living situation; spending a significant amount of time in Paradis’ homeland of France allowed them to lead their lives with minimal intrusion from the public eye.

Depp and Paradis initially crossed paths in 1998 during his time in France filming The Ninth Gate. He recounted the moment to The Daily Mail, saying, “It happened at the Hôtel Costes. She was wearing a backless dress, and I caught sight of her back and neck. Then she turned around, and those eyes – boom! That was the end of my days as a single man.”

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Who is Venessa Paradis?

Vanessa Paradis is a French singer, model, and actress. She rose to fame at the age of 14 with her internationally successful single “Joe le taxi” (1987). At 18, she achieved significant recognition in both the realms of singing and acting, receiving the Prix Romy Schneider and the César Award for Most Promising Actress for her role in Jean-Claude Brisseau’s film “Noce Blanche.” She also secured the Victoires de la Musique for Best Female Singer for her album “Variations sur le même t’aime.”

Paradis has left her mark in the world of cinema with notable performances in films such as “Élisa” (1995) alongside Gérard Depardieu, “Witch Way Love” (1997) opposite Jean Reno, “Une chance sur deux” (1998) co-starring with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon, “Girl on the Bridge” (1999), “Heartbreaker” (2010), “Café de Flore” (2011), and “Yoga Hosers” (2016), directed by Kevin Smith.

One of her memorable moments in French popular culture was her tribute to Jeanne Moreau at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival, during which they sang “Le Tourbillon” in a duet. In 2022, Paradis earned a nomination for the Molière Award for Best Actress for her performance in the play “Maman.”

Born in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, a suburb near Paris, Vanessa Paradis comes from a creative background as her parents, André and Corinne Paradis, worked as interior designers. During her childhood, she embarked on a journey of artistic exploration by participating in dance classes, gaining foundational knowledge of the piano, and taking part in casting sessions for child models. Her talents were showcased early on when, at the age of seven, she made an appearance on the regional television show “L’École des fans,” a platform dedicated to showcasing the talents of young singers.

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At the age of 15, Paradis entered into a relationship with 26-year-old French singer Florent Pagny, which eventually ended in 1991. Following that, she was involved with Lenny Kravitz from 1991 to 1996, a period during which he not only dated her but also produced her self-titled album in 1992.

Between 1997 and 1998, she was romantically linked with French actor Stanislas Merhar.

From 1998 to 2012, Paradis shared a relationship with American actor Johnny Depp. The couple had two children together: a daughter named Lily-Rose Depp (born 1999) and a son named John “Jack” Christopher Depp III (Jack Depp), born in 2002.

In May 2014, during a Chanel show in Dubai, Vanessa Paradis publicly acknowledged her relationship with French singer Benjamin Biolay. Their relationship concluded in May 2015. Later, in November 2016, she began dating Samuel Benchetrit, who directed her in his fifth film, “Dog.” In June 2018, Paradis and Benchetrit tied the knot in the town of Saint-Simeon. Notably, Vanessa Paradis possesses a country estate in close proximity to the town, and her late father owned a small restaurant in the serene country commune.