Vanessa Paradis: Life Post Johnny Depp

Vanessa Paradis has never been as well known in the U.S. as she has in the past few months, after she split from her extremely famous partner of 14 years, Johnny Depp.

After months of speculation, Depp, 49, and Paradis, 39, finally stopped denying that they were on the rocks and released a joint statement to the press, stating that they have decided to split amicably but will continue raising their two children together.

Since the split, much of the media focus (at least in the U.S.) has been on Depp, but what about Paradis? How is she coping? The French version of Elle magazine asked the French actress in a recent interview, only be told politely that she’s not planning to discuss any details with the public.

“I don’t want to talk about him,” Paradis said, flatly shutting down the topic.

However, she then decided to open up a bit more to at least explain her abruptness with the questions.

“Who said that artists should sell their soul, expose everything about themselves? ... It’s my duty to promote this movie, and my albums, but can you imagine what it feels like to see people making a business out of your pain? What’s happened to us is our concern.”

Talking around the subject, however, seemed to warm Paradis up a bit and fuel her desire to assure the public (or herself?) that she is okay with the fallout of the split and where she’s at right now.

“I don’t have the recipe for happiness,” Paradis began, “but I think the engine is simply having the desire. It’s not feeling obliged or forced or repeating yourself. I hate, for example, whenever you hear someone say, ‘You have to work at being a couple.’ No, you have to want to be there. And for me, I want to be right where I am right now.”

Paradis seems to be doing well, as she is currently stumping for her latest film Cornouvaille (Cornwall), and is apparently still on friendly terms with Depp, as they were seen together just a few weeks ago at their home in France, along with their 14-year-old daughter, Lily-Rose, and 10-year-old son, Jack.

Depp has yet to make any sort of public reference to the split. It is likely that he never will, as the actor is known for giving few interviews and guarding his privacy fiercely. Now single, he will probably be even more guarded, as he is likely to be linked romantically by the press to ever female he meets.

I hope, for the sake of all involved, that things really are as amicable as they appear to be from this angle. Separations are hard – even for gorgeous celebrities.