Absent from music since 1993, Vanessa Paradis returns with Bliss, an album that's released next Tuesday, before taking the stage at the Olympia next March. A brunette for the Terry Gilliam movie she's filming in Spain and in which she acts for the first time alongside her "fiancé," Johnny Depp. At the same time, Vanessa Paradis promotes her new album, which concerns ballads composed with M, Frank Monnet, Alain Bashung, Golemanas, Langolff... and Johnny Depp. Or does it concern love, happiness, her fiancé Johnny, and their daughter Lily-Rose.

A little about the film with Terry Gilliam?

I've hardly begun filming. It's a totally insane adaptation of the story of Don Quixote (The Man Who Killed Don Quixote) revised by Terry Gilliam. For the first time I act with my fiancé. That's not something we looked for because we prefer to protect our life. But in this case we could not say no.

Why?

Because it's a super script, a super director, and Jean Rochefort plays Don Quixote! And then there's the fact that we don't have to juggle our schedules so that we can be sure to be together. At the same time, it's rather alarming to act opposite the love of my life.

Bliss, the title of your album, means total happiness. Is that your state of mind at the moment?

It's more complex. For the first time, there's not a word in French language that is as pretty as that one. You can translate it as total happiness, as the perfect happiness, or the best of the best you can feel. I am happy!

Johnny Depp participated in the making of the album along with your daughter, Lily-Rose. More fear about talking about your private life?

You can say that! It's true that I don't like to speak about my life with the press, but this album talks only about my life. It's obvious that's very contradictory. I am perfectly aware that I'm opening my secret garden a little bit to everyone. But there was something in me that pushed me to make all these songs like a photo-album, a reflection of my life that I wanted to show.

It's you who called up M. (Chedid) to take part in the songwriting process?

Yes. I'd heard a bit of his first album, Baptism, and I'd loved it! At the time, I was researching. I knew I couldn't make an album all alone. At the same time, I needed talented people, but especially real, beautiful, and human talents. I wouldn't have gone after super-talented people who would have been awful to work with. With Mathieu, we got along great. He's someone very down to earth, funny, and talented, like Franck Monnet and all who've worked on the album.

You've taken part in the writing, the composition, the arrangements, the production... Is it kind of like your second baby?

I didn't let anything be done without my own little personal touch! I wanted this album to be very personal and I wanted nothing to slip by. Maybe that's a little egotistical, but, all in all, it's my album. For the other ones, I was content to just choose the songs and sing them.

You've composed certain pieces. You weren't known as a musician.

I won't exaggerate anything. I play the piano with three fingers and the same with the guitar after two years, and not every day! Thus I play very badly, but it's enough to write songs! It's just more difficult. Me, I refine the music in my head.

Notably, Johnny Depp composed a beautiful jazzy song, "Saint-Germain."

That wasn't calculated. For the song "Bliss," I'd begun the refrain and I couldn't go any further. I asked him for help. With "Saint-Germain," that happened by chance. He strummed the guitar, I sang a few notes and... it become a song.

Did he encourage you?

A lot. He has more confidence in me than I do myself. He gives me wings!

Your last musical effort, your tour, was in 1993. Why the long absence?

I left for the film world because I needed to breathe. I never left music before that will never leave me, but all the trappings that comes with it. I wasn't taking part in concerts and playing music live. That stifles me a bit. The film, it's an ideal, cushy job where you get in someone else's skin, you say someone else's words... you forget your life and it's really like a vacation!

I remember that, during the filming of Elisa, I'd done such a good job, with such great people, that I didn't want to go back and make another CD. I took my time, made other films. And, one day, I was itching to go back. That took three years. It should be said that I didn't work every day and that I made a baby!

You've dedicated to her "The Ballad of Lily-Rose?"

I had composed the music when I was pregnant. When I told myself I'd make a pretty lullaby for her, the lyrics came very easily. I know it's not an extraordinary song, but it's what I wanted. For the other lyrics, I told myself they're not fabulous, but I don't have to be ashamed of them, I made them very honestly and I support them. The other ones I couldn't support, I asked other people to write instead.

The song "Commando" is a bit violent. Is that what you wanted?

The title makes you think of a fight, a war, but it's not like that. It's a song that gathers all the ideas of this album which is the gang of love, the solidness of a family and friendship. Something indestructible..

Do you feel more serene, less wary in respect to the press or the media?

I still don't want to speak very much about the details of private life, but when you're happy, it's hard not to talk about it.

Any other projects?

I'm taking it slowly, my personal life comes first. But I would like to do theater, that must be very strong and alive. A classical piece or a contemporary piece, I don't know. I need a thunderbolt!