Today, French actress and model Ludivine Sagnier turns 30.
Sagnier started taking acting classes at a young age and had her film debut at age 10. In 2001, she was named one of the Shooting Stars by European Film Promotion. In 2003, she won the Prix Romy Schneider.

From Wikipedia:
Sagnier has appeared nude in extended scenes in [...]

British illustrator Jonathan Edwards dedicates an entire blog to drawings of Serge Gainsbourg: Draw Serge!. Here are two recent contributions (click each for source):

Is his own words:
'Welcome to "Draw Serge!", my illustrative tribute to the late, great Gainsbourg. I'm a huge fan of Serge Gainsbourg. He's a hugely important figure in 20th Century popular music [...]

Stuart Jeffries of the Guardian interviews French artist Orlan: 'Narcissism is important'

Orlan is mostly known for her work with plastic surgery in the 1990s. But this 7-minute video shows that she has a body of work that started long before - and one that is still evolving.

Fabien Bastide and his girl friend Coralie had a lot of time and little money, so they embarked on a trip from France to Laos on a budget of 4 euros per day. Their vehicle was a tatty Citroën 2CV.
The journey took one year, one month and 10 days, during which they drove 32,408 [...]

In the Sun: French First Lady Carla Bruni in lacy lingerie - before she became the Next big thing in modeling.

The sexy snaps - including one of her in a floral bodice - were taken in 1989 for clothes giant Next's mail order catalogue. And they show why Carla - now the 41-year-old wife of [...]

Today, French actress Vahina Giocante [wiki] turns 28.

In case you're wondering, the name Vahina means "Welcome" in Malagasy.

Nearly melting away under the Paris sun: Obama "a little bit stiff" in wax

It's the compulsory honor for the rich and famous: being displayed in the Musée Grevin in Paris. Here is the faux Barack, together with real (or also fake?) body guards. In the museum he'll join other world leaders, like Nick Sarkozy, Angie [...]

A forthcoming exhibition in Boulogne-Billancourt (BB for short), Paris, looks at the life and career of Brigitte Bardot. The Telegraph has a preview. I selected these two from the 13-pic slideshow:

Just a happy summer song by recently discovered hotlipped singer Amandine Bourgeois (official site, myspace). The song was written by Olivia Ruiz, and comes from Amandine's first album.

HT Filles Sourires

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this on KNS: Kim Jong Il's Feats Praised
Pyongyang, June 14 (KCNA) — Jesus Antonio Carlos Hernandez, general secretary of the Central Committee of the People's Socialist Party of Mexico, and Edmond Jouve, director-general of the European Society for the Study of the Juche Idea, separately issued statements [...]

Today, 15 June, is the 66th birthday of Johnny Hallyday, aka "the biggest rock star you've never heard of" (wiki, official site).

This year marks the end of his 50-year career — Hallyday is currently making his farewell tour around the country. And the old man still rocks, as you can see in this recent video:

If [...]

A blog that gets a lot of good press these days: Daily Routines — How writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days.
In the Smokers category, here's an entry about French 19th century writer Gustave Flaubert (wiki):

Days were as unvaried as the notes of the cuckoo. Flaubert, a man of nocturnal habits, usually [...]

A few days ago, Frenchman Stéphane Mifsud shattered a previous world record, by holding his breath for no less than 11 minutes and 35 seconds. This video shows the full episode (minus two minutes), and is fascinating because actually nothing happens.

Remember French pole vaulter Romain Mesnil who ran naked through Paris because he needed a sponsor? Well, it looks like he found his benefactor (an Internet hosting company), and he's proud to show his white buttocks and black chastity block again.

In May 1968, little Danny Le Rouge (Danny the Red) was one of the leaders in the French student revolt. Now, Daniel Cohn-Bendit is Green and Big. Very big.
Added:
Danny the Green shakes up France, again
Danny the Red takes greens to French election triumph