Daily Staff Writer

French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg makes her introduction to American audiences this month as Charlotte Bronte’s heroine in the film Jane Eyre, which also stars William Hurt. Gainsbourg, 24 and already well-known in France, is the daughter of British actress Jane Birkin and French singer-composer-filmmaker Serge Gainsbourg. Hers was hardly the struggling existence of Jane Eyre, an orphan who becomes a plain-speaking governess with startling courage and strength.

1. Had you read Jane Eyre when you were growing up?

Gainsbourg: I hadn’t read the book. I know it sounds really weird. I’m French, [and] a lot of French people have read it, but it’s not a schoolbook that we would study. So I discovered the book when I heard about the project. I read it in French and then in English.

2. How much of you is in Jane Eyre?

Gainsbourg: Things I understood perfectly in the part was maybe the distance that she has towards people. … I understand the way of protecting yourself toward other people. It’s something I can relate to easily.

3. Have you ever been as penniless or as poor?

Gainsbourg: No, never. I was very lucky. My parents were wealthy. So, no, I never had those problems.

4. You became famous in France for recording a hit song with your Dad called ”Lemon Incest.” What was it about?

Gainsbourg: It was a very simple song, but it shocked quite a lot of people. It was done in a very innocent, truthful way. I can’t translate the lyrics. It’s just a song about the love between a father and a daughter. It’s about feelings — people can be shocked about them. We weren’t.

5. If this whole acting thing doesn’t work out, would you consider becoming a governess instead?

Gainsbourg: No, I think I’ll have my own children!