Camille (French singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camille
Camille in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Camille Dalmais
Born	(1978-03-10) 10 March 1978 (age 47) Paris, France
Genres	Chanson
Occupation(s)	Singer
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Virgin Because
Associated acts	Nouvelle Vague, MaJiKer

Camille Dalmais (born March 10, 1978), known to her fans simply as Camille, is a famous French singer and songwriter. She is known for her creative and experimental style of music.

Early Life and Education

Camille was born and grew up in Paris, France. Her mother was an English teacher, and her father was a musician. This helped Camille become fluent in both French and English.

As a teenager, she loved ballet, bossa nova music from Brazil, and American musicals. She went to a top high school called the Lycée International de Saint Germain-en-Laye. When she was just 16, she sang her first original song, "Un Homme Déserté," at a wedding.

Before her music career took off, she studied at a famous university in Paris, Sciences Po Paris. She also started acting, appearing in the French film Les Morsures de l'aube [fr].

Music Career

Starting Out

In 2002, Camille signed with the music label Virgin Records and released her first album, Le Sac des Filles.

Two years later, she joined the band Nouvelle Vague. This band was known for mixing new wave and bossa nova styles. Camille sang on several of their songs, including "In a Manner of Speaking" and "The Guns of Brixton".

The Famous 'Le Fil' Album

In 2005, Camille released her second album, Le Fil, which means "The Thread" in English. This album was very unusual. A single, continuous note, like a hum or a drone, plays through the entire album, connecting all the songs.

The album focuses on the power of the human voice. Most songs use only a few instruments, like a bass, guitar, or keyboard. Le Fil was a huge success and quickly sold enough copies to be certified gold.

More Albums and Success

Camille performing in 2009

Camille's next album, Music Hole, came out in 2008. It was another creative project, featuring songs like "Gospel with No Lord" and "Money Note." Her song "Ta douleur" became popular in the United States after it was used in a comedy sketch on the TV show Saturday Night Live.

Over the years, she has released more successful albums, including Ilo Veyou (2011) and Ouï (2017).

Work in Movies

Camille is also known for her work on movie soundtracks.

One of her most famous contributions was for the Pixar movie Ratatouille (2007). She sang the main song, "Le Festin" ("The Feast"). She also provided the French voice for the character Colette in the movie.

In 2015, she worked with the famous composer Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack for the animated movie The Little Prince.

More recently, Camille wrote all the original songs for the musical movie Emilia Pérez (2024). For this work, she and her collaborator Clément Ducol won the Soundtrack Award at the Cannes Film Festival. The song "El Mal" from the movie also won a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar.

Personal Life

Camille has two children with her partner, musician Clément Ducol. Their son, Marius, was born in 2010, and their daughter, Lila, was born in 2013.

Discography

Studio Albums

Selected Film and TV Work

Major Awards

Camille has won many awards for her music. Here are some of the most important ones:

• Victoires de la musique: This is the French version of the Grammy Awards. She has won several times, including "Album of the Year" for Le Fil in 2006 and "Female Artist of the Year" in 2009.
• Prix Constantin: She won "Album of the Year" for Le Fil in 2005.
• Cannes Film Festival: In 2024, she won the Cannes Soundtrack Award for her work on the film Emilia Pérez.
• Golden Globe Awards: In 2025, she won "Best Original Song" for "El Mal" from Emilia Pérez.
• Academy Awards: In 2025, she won the Oscar for "Best Original Song" for "El Mal".

See also

In Spanish: Camille (cantante) para niños