Quotes from Charlotte Gainsbourg

The more you turn down things, the more difficult it becomes to feel that the next one will be right.

Wanting to do it was much more powerful than the fright.

The English was really my mother, it was never me. Being the daughter of my father, I always felt very French.

Before I started touring, I worked with someone to help me, even physically, because I was so shy. And you can't be shy going onstage. So I had to push myself in a direction that wasn't myself.

I hope I'll consider my next part, having learnt from this one.

Girls can wear jeans, cut their hair short, wear shirts and boots, 'cause it's okay to be a boy, but for a boy to look like a girl is degrading.

I was putting all those pressures on myself.

You think that being a girl is degrading, but secretly, you'd love to know what it's like, wouldn't you?

I found it very difficult to explain to someone why you did a film. It's not like having a conversation.

I wasn't getting the responses I hoped for. You can't protect yourself from other judgments.

I'm a very shy person towards my intimacy and private life.

Everyone gets the feeling that they know you and they know your life, and I felt really embarrassed by that.

I still find it hard to push my own limits. I know where my limits are and that I always have to push myself.

In France I'm very private, I don't like talking about my life, and I imagined that people would think that I'm now an open book.

There were always questions about my parents; I got so fed up with that.

I thought people would ask me really personal questions because I've shown more of myself, but it's a comedy, and people understand that it's a game we play.

I hated seeing myself on screen. I was full of complexes. I hated my face for a very, very long time.

Even moving around onstage seemed very artificial. But at the same time you have to make that effort in order to get back to who you are and even accept not moving, if that's who you are.

I used to hate being recognised.

I love being a beginner. It can be a terrible feeling because you're ashamed of everything you do, but it's so exciting at the same time.

It's more than a job. It's very personal, so when you're hurt, you're really hurt inside.

You don't accept your weaknesses the same way that you love the weaknesses of another artist, because when they make mistakes they don't look like weaknesses.

I thought people wouldn't take me seriously if too much acting was involved in the singing. But now I love the idea of mixing everything together.

I'd love to be able to write again, but I'm so repetitive. And it was all about fear. Never positive. Just indulgent about my sadness.