It was cold December 4th, a record of -32C with windchill. A funny time to make your first visit to Quebec! The islands in the south, Vanessa Paradis had already been there. To Montreal, never. She thus benefited from the release of the film Noce Blanche, where she plays the lead role, to do promo in our city. Filles D'ajourd'hui had the chance to meet her. The appointment is made for a chic Montreal hotel, in the V.I.P. room. Because of the cold, the downtown traffic is terrible, and since interviews are said to be about 30 minutes, I don't have a minute to lose! But no, I arrive on time. Her press agent accomodates me and then leaves. Vanessa will be a little late, she's talking to someone in France. An important call that she has been waiting for for a few days. I join Pierre, the photographer who's waiting for the young starlet to arrive so that he can do his job. Everything's ready. 10, 15 minutes, we joke that we hope this doesn't count as part of our 30 minutes! I think that deep down, we feel a little nervous. Vanessa is only 17 years old, but all the same she is a star, and to meet a star is always impressive. She finally arrives, accompanied by her faithful friend Amandine. When Vanessa travels, Amandine goes with her. She walks authoritatively and her handshake is firm. At first glace, the young starlet seems to be a determined woman. She's dressed like many adolescents dress: black jeans, black pullover, cowboy boots. She wears light make up, just what you need for a photo session. She quickly takes her seat. It's immediately obvious that she is a true professional. She has a remarkable self-assurance. Pierre takes the photos. I observe the scene from afar. For Vanessa, it's not the first time and that is apparent. She knows herself well from all angles and very nicely declines to give Pierre a particular profile. She is very attentive to all that's happening. For her, it's work, and she does it seriously and conscientiously. The photo session is finished, and we sit down at a table with coffee. Vanessa has some sandwiches. She hasn't eaten yet and it's nearly 4 P.M. No time to lose with polite chatter, the clock is ticking. Vanessa, how are the Quebecois treating you? Marvellously, I think that out of all the places I've been, it's here where people have been the most sympathetic. Everyone is very nice to me. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to look around Quebec. Already, you've been in this profession for a few years now, what do you find the most difficult? Promo, I think. It's very tiring. You meet so many people, to answer hundreds of question. It's very dazing. It requires a lot of attention. You always have to be on your guard because you never know how the media will take your remarks. Promo, it's a little like a chore? Yes, absolutely! You're 17 years old, do you consider yourself a teenager? No. It's like I passed right by it. My adolesence flew away very quickly. I live in an adult world, so I had to quickly learn how to act adult. My life does not resemble at all the life of other teenagers. People are raised thinking that the life of a starlet is the dream life, what do you think about that? Not at all. It's very demanding. I work a lot. People think that because they don't see us on TV we're sitting quietly at home or we're lying on a beach somewhere getting a tan. That's not the case. Like today, I'm not in France, but I'm far from having nothing to do. What's your favorite thing about being a singer? The studio. The time you spend recording, it's really fantastic. You live by another rhythm, often spending very late evenings there or even night (because studios are not necessarily free during the day). There is a complicity between the musicians, the producer, and the technicians. You become like a family and while you take your work seriously, you have a lot of fun. Probably getting up on stage and doing your own concert must be very exiciting, but since I haven't done that yet... Do you think you'll do one soon? We talk about it but it's not the time to do it, I don't feel completely ready. When I get up on stage, I want it to be perfect. It's demanding to present a concert and I don't want to do it halfway. But the day will come. It's also necessary for me to choose my repetoire of songs very carefully. I make a point of having songs that suit me well. Do you want to write your own songs? I have, but I don't show them to anyone because they're not perfect. You seem to expect a lot from yourself. Yes, I believe that when you do something, it's important to do it well, if not, what good is it! I require only the best from myself. You are passionate about what you do? Absolutely. You just made your first film. How did you find the experience? I adored it. Your first role is a difficult character. Why did you agree to take it? First, because I found the script to be splendid, and the character very interesting. People had already proposed roles to me, but nothing attractive. I think it's very important to make good choices and to like the part you're going to play. Playing Mathilde was a challenge, right? She's not an easy character, you don't think you took a big risk? Yes, but I like challenges and Mathilde was a good-sized one. She let me do all kinds of emotions: passion, love, anger. I really wanted to risk it all. And during filming, how was it? I didn't see the dailies. The director didn't want me to see them. He didn't want me to continue naturally, to not be influenced by my onscreen image. So, when did you see yourself onscreen for the first time? The night of the premiere. Were you please? I hated myself. You see yourself blown up on screen, you see only your fault. It's difficult to be objective with yourself. And now? Now that's it been three times that I've seen the film, it's better. I try to look at it with more detachment, like as if it's not me who's acting. I'm content with the result. Would you act again? Yes, if someone offers me an interesting role. Aside from singing and acting, do you have other passions? I adore modern dance. I do that regularly. And your life, Vanessa, if you were to do it all over again, would you change it? Not at all. I adore it! Time is up. Thank you Vanessa. Have a safe trip to Paris. Vanessa gets up, always so determinedly, she gives me a vigorous handshake and turns her heels. She joins Amadine and they go to eat. Vanessa is a real pro, she's already an adult but her eyes and heart sparkle with the enthusiasm and spontanaeity of youth. I even have proof, since before she left, Vanessa Paradis put her finger in the whipped cream of the buffet of the very chic V.I.P room. Whew, that was a relief!