Men still assume I must be like the girl I played in 'Emmanuelle.' John Wayne was never accused of killing people during his free time, but I'm forever stuck with the image of 'Emmanuelle.' The truth is, I should have got an Oscar for that role because I'm nothing like that woman.

I like this other world, this forgetting of myself. The actor works in order to escape, not to find himself. You become an actor by leaving yourself, and then you have to keep acting. How tragic!

I have a talent for happiness. I look with the eyes of a painter, and I see beauty.

The only thing I was trying to portray was serenity. Also, innocence, vulnerability and elegance.

I'm very glad to have something to be passionate about. I can't imagine a life without passion.

Of course it's difficult to top a box office success like Emmanuelle, so it will always be my most important work. But that's nothing to be ashamed of.

No one has taken my heart in their hand. I haven't given it... I have lent myself, rented myself out, but never given myself.