Introduction
1 The initial(s) C.G.
2 Turning point: my wife is an actress (and a star)
3 ‘Je t’aime, moi non plus’: The (dys)functional relationship of Gainsbourg and von Trier
4 Generic and geographic border crossings: the (un)homeliness of Gainsbourg's persona
5 Transmedia stardom and celebrity
Conclusion
Filmography

Works cited
Index

Actress, singer, indie icon and embodiment of Parisian cool, Charlotte Gainsbourg is one of the most intriguing and understated stars of our time. Her film career has seen her work with many significant French and international directors. Her status as musician, muse to fashion designer Nicolas Ghesquière, and daughter of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg has cemented her celebrity both in France and internationally.

This book, the first detailed study of Gainsbourg, charts the trajectory of her star persona across four decades, from her early work with her father and ground-breaking collaboration with Claude Miller to her more recent collaborations with Lars von Trier and music producers like Beck and Air. It combines textual analysis of performance, costume, place, characterisation and narrative with archival research and extra-cinematic materials to interrogate the construction of Gainsbourg’s persona. As well as providing a comprehensive overview of her career to date, this book also examines her circulation in a transnational context and across a range of media platforms, exploring notions of gender, beauty and nationality in relation to her embodiment of femininity, Frenchness and transnationality.

Essential reading for academics and students working in film and screen studies, French studies and fashion studies, this book makes a valuable contribution to the study of contemporary stardom and celebrity in a global context.