Vanessa in pain over Johnny Depp

Los Angeles - Vanessa Paradis is in "pain" following her split from Johnny Depp.

The French singer - who is promoting her latest film Cornouaille - still refuses to talk about the Pirates of the Caribbean actor since the pair broke up in June following a 14-year relationship, but she insists she "wants" to be in her current situation.

She told French Elle: "I don't want to talk about him. 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."

'I want to be right where I am right now'

She added: "I don't have the recipe for happiness, 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."

While Vanessa - who has two children Lily-Rose, 13, and 10-year-old Jack with Johnny - is happy for her kids to follow in the pair's footsteps and forge a career in showbusiness, she hopes Lily-Rose doesn't become famous at a young age and sacrifice having a normal childhood.

The brunette beauty - who shot to fame with hit song Joe le taxi in 1987 at the age of 14 - added: "I can tell you that if they decide to launch themselves into this kind of career it will be a good thing for music.

"For my part, although I do not regret what I did, I'd prefer that my daughter takes the time to learn, and, especially, to live her childhood thoroughly."