Up To Date france

The acclaimed actor Johnny Depp, star of the Pirates of the Caribbean films, has told of his delight at living in France.

Speaking to French magazine VSD, Depp, said that his French life was a kind of “paradise”.

The megastar, who has been voted “sexiest man alive” in a People magazine survey, said that French living had granted his family the life he has always dreamed of.

Depp, who lives in Plan de la Tour in the south of France with his French partner Vanessa Paradis and their two children, said his life was “A simple existence” and said “It has given me everything. A marvellous family and also an equilibrium which I missed enormously.”

The Edward Scissorhands star described his idyllic existence in a remote village and said: “”With Vanessa and the kids, we live in a sort of little village in the south and I have the impression of being in paradise. It’s a property of about 30 acres and you know what I do there — absolutely nothing!”

The heartthrob said that his life revolves around his children and shared his joy at tending his vegetable garden in his rural idyll as well as expressing a desire to make a foray into the world of winemaking at some point in the future.

He said: “I’ll keep it for myself before daring to sell it commercially.”

The infamous Elysee Palace steps claimed two further trip victims last night as guests arrived for a dinner in honour of a visit by the Russian first couple.

The small flight, at the entrance to the French president’s official residence, has already led to the downfall of US secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who stumbled and lost a shoe during an official visit to the French capital recently.

The wife of the former US president was caught by Nicolas Sarkozy who was waiting to welcome her and the moment beamed around the world via video sharing sites such as YouTube.

And on Tuesday night, the shallow flight proved an obstacle too far for French pop singer Mylene Farmer who tripped on her sky high heels as she ascended the steps.

The songstress’s platform stilettos seemingly caught in the plush red carpet that had been laid out for the important event, and paparazzi caught the events as she stumbled into the hem of her own dress, threatening to topple over completely before regaining her balance and heading into the dinner.

And the cursed step drama sis no stop there as prominent businessman Jean Francois Cirelli, president of GDF Suez the company hoping to enter into a deal over natural gas with Russian suppliers, arrived with his wife, the booby-steps struck again, claiming yet another shoe from the stumbling stiletto wearer.

French police have launched a murder investigation after a British pensioner was found dead in her flat near Nice.

Carol Hagues, who retired to the south of France 10 years ago was stabbed five time at her home in Cagnes sur Mer and was discovered laying in a pool of her own blood by her younger partner.

The man who found her was arrested at the scene but later released with no charge.

And now detectives are searching for a killer they believe was known to the victim.

According to reports there were no indications of forced entry at the scene, speaking to the London Times one source said : ” That leads us to believe that it was someone familiar to her, That leads us to believe that it was someone familiar to her.”

Neighbours who were interviewed following the grisly discovery told police that they had frequently overheard heated arguments between the ex-pat grandmother and her lover, whom they believed to be Spanish.

One told the local Nice Matin newspaper: “On some nights we couldn’t sleep. The police often came here.”

Local deputy prosecutor Jean Louis Moreau confirmed that Mrs Hagues’ partner had been held for three days as a suspect but that no compelling evidence had been found on which to hold him. He said: “We concluded that there was not sufficient proof so he was released. The inquiry is continuing. We are looking at people emotionally close to the deceased.”