BBC Music on the World Service: Cerys Matthews with Charlotte Gainsbourg

Cerys’ guest this month is British-French actress and singer Charlotte Gainsbourg.

Charlotte Gainsbourg is the daughter of actress Jane Birkin and singer Serge Gainsbourg.

She first came to prominence in France as a young teenager, singing songs penned by her father. She recorded Lemon Incest with him at the age of 12 and released an album with her father at the age of 15.

As an adult she has recorded albums of her own and appeared in many films, including several directed by Lars von Trier. She has received both a César Award and the Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Award.

After the sudden death of her half-sister, Charlotte was plunged into an extended period of grieving. The event transpired just as Charlotte was initiating activity on a new album.

Rather than put a total brake on creative proceedings the anguish would slowly find expression in the pages of Charlotte’s journal and, eventually, in the lyrics of the songs that she would write for Rest - her long-gestating but ultimately cathartic third studio album.

• Produced by Angela Davies for BBC World Service.

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