Brilliant career. Lush man. Great clothes. To celebrate her 30th birthday, Vanessa Paradis shows ELLE a photo album of her life less ordinary. C'est sa vie! Say her name and you instantly think of Paris, so it's a bit odd to find that petite actress/model/singer Vanessa Paradis is living in smog-drenched L.A. As she flops onto an art deco sofa in Hollywood's Chateau Marmont, she explains she's diving her time between the two cities, because her lover Johnny Depp is working here right now. "For the time being he's working more than me. So I'm here, with him, in the U.S.," she says. "But he was with me all last year, during my tour -- and my two pregnancies, of course." In battered jeans, old boots, and Arran sweater, Vanessa rolls menthol cigarettes in brown paper, looking more like a student than a superstar mum. Staring into that young, dewy face, it's hard to believe she has two small kids and has just turned 30. But, in spirit, Vanessa kissed goodbye to her 20s a long time ago. "My mum said 30 is the best age for a woman," she says. "I've never felt so good. My life is even better than what I had dreamed of when I was 20. I have worked so hard; now I want to enjoy life. It's the best." In April, Vanessa is returning to France to work on a sci-fi comedy with Belgian actor Benoit Poelvoorde, and Johnny will follow with Lily-Rose, 3, and Jack, 1. In the meantime, she's happy in L.A. But, she laughs, "I would like it at the North Pole if Johnny wanted to take me there." And who can blame the girl? My Daughter, Lily-Rose: "I always dreamed of children, so having my first with the man I love was just the best thing for me. Lily-Rose is the most intense, deep and thoughtful little girl I know. She says the most unbelievable things. At the moment I'm wondering what I can tell her to help her confront the world. She's a little bit too sensitive. She has very fixed tastes: she likes grilled bacon more than sweets. She likes cartoons like The Little Mermaid and songs by Bob Dylan, especially 'Mr. Tambourine Man.' She's already seen him in concert -- and even gave him a kiss on the lips!" My Childhood: "I was raised in Villers-sur-Marne, where our garden was always full of lilies. My parents have always been great -- I love them very much. My father is very philosophical and never sees anything bad in other people. His office looks like Ali Baba's cave. I used to do a lot of watercolours with him and we also went fishing together. My mother is my best friend. She knows me by heart. She knows if something is wrong just by the way I say 'Hello.' When I'm snowed under, she always says the right thing. She's smart and everybody loves her company and seeks her advice. She's my role model." My Dog, Nelson: "This picture shows me when I was 20 and Nelson was my only companion. At every concert on my first tour, the fans would tell me how much they loved me and I always left the stage in tears. My only comfort was my friend Nelson." My Tour in 2001: "For the album Bliss, Johnny gave me a guitar and taught me how to play. I also worked with Mathieu Chedid, a great artist, and Steve Nieve, a piano maestro. During the day we led a bohemian life on the bus, and in the evening we played music. Lily-Rose went everywhere with me, and I was pregnant with Jack." My Inspiration: "Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' is like Mozart for me." My Sister: Until the age of 11 I was an only child. So when my sister Alysson Lilou was born, it was a blessing. At night, I used to 'steal' her from her cot to take her into my bed and cuddle her. I even changed her nappies and kept her in my room while I was doing my homework. When I was 16 and started to live on my own, Mum would let her stay over for the weekend. She's strong and smart and wants to be an actress -- she's got everything to succeed. I often ask her for advice, I trust her taste and her instinct." My Lover, Johnny Depp: "We met in 1994 at a mutual friend's house. He made a big impression on me and during my years of solitude, he never left my thoughts. Then, in 1998, we met again. Three months later, we decided to spend our lives together, and have a baby. He's my Prince Charming, the man of my life, my best friend. He's everything I dream of, everything I want, everything I need. Our story is a mix of love and friendship. I feel that nobody has a love like ours! Johnny's a perfect father: he dresses the children, changes them, makes them laugh. Lily-Rose gets what she wants out of him! When we're both working, we meet up every fortnight, we can't stay apart much longer and we want to make the most of our relationship and our kids. We do talk shop and sometimes we give each other advice. I know he prefers me to sing than to act. What gets on my nerves about him? He lets Lily-Rose have too many crisps!" My Friend, Valery: "I met her at a friend's house when I was 17. We got on like a house on fire and become inseperable. She's as beautiful as Pocahontas and she knows how to do everything with her own hands." My Agent, My Friend: "Marceline Lenoir is my film agent. I met her when I was 13 and she believed in me even then..." Marilyn: "Something in her makes me like her like a friend. Maybe it's because she was so misunderstood." My Meeting with Gerard Depardieu: "We worked together on the movie Elisa (by Jean Becker). What a partner! He used to make me laugh just before the most dramatic scenes!" My Work with Serge Gainsbourg: "It was a true blessing to be able to work with Serge. He was polite, very sweet, a gentleman. He would tell me about his life and I wanted to hug him really tight but I was to shy. I wish I had. He died a year later." My Lady of Jazz: "Billie Holiday is a real singer!" My Favorite Sweatshirt: "I stole this from my mum when I was 15! And my old boots, too." My Start as an Actress: "The film Noce Blanche changed a lot of things for me. After the success of 'Joe le Taxi,' I faced a lot of resentment. People insulted me, spat on me: It was a nightmare. In Noce Blanche I played an ex-prostitute hurt by life; I was no longer the little singer in too much make-up. When it came out, everything changed: the press and the public were nice. Maybe they noticed I had a little talent..." My 'Clown' Uncle: "Didier Pain is my mum's brother and my godfather. He's an actor and when I was little, I went on set with him. I met his friend, Franck Langolff, and asked if he would write me a song. Not long afterwards he wrote 'Joe le Taxi.' Didier than became my producer and protected me during my first eight years." My Little Guy, Jack: "Like every mother, I wondered how I could have a second child and love it as much as the first. Then Jack was born and my heart just grew bigger. He's a ray of sunshine, a real little guy, so happy! I love his little feet -- they just smell too good. Why 'Jack'? Because it's a strong and pure name and because Jack Kerouac is one of Johnny's favorite writers. Ideally we'd like to have more children."