Over the past few days I've borne witness to the online blogger/message board beatdown that is relentlessly being inflicted on Vanessa Paradis, French chanteuse, actress and occasional Chanel model, and most famously (outside of Europe), the woman who shares toilet paper with Johnny Depp. I felt compelled to respond.
I don't want to perpetuate the mindless mockery aimed at Vanessa so I won't reiterate what's being said, but let's keep it polite and say that people don't think she looks good and therefore doesn't deserve Johnny Depp. Most were unaware of her until Johnny started dating her ten years ago, and she's since flown low on the radar in terms of their infrequent appearances in the U.S. So it hasn't really been until now, as rumours abound about an impending wedding, that she's been the keyboard jockeys' focus of negative attention. And I'm at odds with that, in a big way.
I first became aware of Vanessa Paradis in 1992 when I picked up the latest issue of Details magazine. She was one of the features as she had just completed an album, produced by a still dreadlocked Lenny Kravitz, and there were a few full-page photos of her that made me stop dead. I was 21 at the time, a year older than her and I was awestruck by her doll-like beauty. I guess you could call it a girl-crush, my first thought was 'I'll trade you.' She jumped off the page, she really had something that was lacking on our side of the pond.
There was only one other time, when I loved Olivia Newton-John. (Warning - embarking on a tangent so if you want to hear it click here.)
Right, so...Vanessa Paradis. She was unbelievably gorgeous and so she's started aging and she never fixed the gap in her teeth. Refreshing, is it not? To be comfortable in your own skin? To not mutilate oneself in a Presley-esque manner in a desperate effort to hang on to your 20 year-old face? It's not a mystery what Johnny sees in her - he's obsessed with 1920s Paris and she's French, his passion is music and she's a singer, and since he's been with her there's been no tearing up hotel rooms and punching out paparazzi (though you couldn't blame him for the latter).
Think of their children's cheekbones. That's more than enough reason to bless their union.
*These were scanned, they're from the early 90s. And look in the sidebar for her latest video.
AGREED!!! this woman is absolutely gorgeous, and personally johnny depp would not be johnny depp if he was with a plastic cookie doll instead a of a real woman who is as stunning as vanessa. just makes me respect the two of them even more. i hope they dont get married though, there's this fairytale thing about them which i adore.
Posted by: Depp Lover | March 16, 2009 at 09:46 AM
i sooo agree! i luv both johnny and vanessa- perfect couple!! <3
Posted by: carrie | March 25, 2009 at 04:45 PM
I completely agree with you. If somebody like Vanessa Paradis can have somebody like Johnny Deep it means there is a chance girls!!! for all of you!!! Vanessa is a French product, nothing special, we in Italy remember her just because she is with Johnny. What surprise me is how Johnny can stay with her...and by the way, in Hollywood there are not only plastic dolls bur good and gorgeous american actresses as well, Julia-Style etc... that Vanessa is zero and I do not understand why Johnny did not married the beautiful, stunning actress Winona Ryder!!!
Posted by: Greta | November 15, 2009 at 05:41 PM
Um, sorry Greta, but I was saying that she DOES deserve Johnny, and gave many reasons why he would be attracted to her!
Denise
Posted by: Denise @ Swelle | November 15, 2009 at 06:36 PM
She IS amazing! I love Vanessa, and it's so true about her doll-like beauty!
Posted by: jessica | January 01, 2010 at 07:36 AM