Entertainment

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy tells how her husband ‘saved her from being an alcoholic’

The model and singer has released her fifth studio album called French Touch.
The model and singer has released her fifth studio album called French Touch.

Former French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has credited her husband, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, with “saving her from being an alcoholic”.

The singer and model, 49, and Mr Sarkozy wed in 2008 and Italian-born Bruni-Sarkozy was the focus of a lot of media attention following their wedding.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni with former British Prime Minister David Cameron
Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy with former PM David Cameron (PA)

Mr Sarkozy was in office as the country’s president from 2007 until 2012 when he stepped down after being defeated by Francois Hollande.

She told The Times: “Nicolas saved me from being an alcoholic. He never drinks – can you believe it?

“I love wine and I like champagne a lot, but I don’t drink it when it’s the two of us.

“I’m not opening a bottle for me, because it’s not much fun to drink alone.”

Her latest album, titled French Touch, is her first English-language release and features a collection of covers including her own versions of songs from an eclectic array of artists including Depeche Mode, Abba and The Rolling Stones.

She has also covered Tammy Wynette’s Stand By Your Man and credited her husband with teaching her “a lot about warmth and serenity”.

She said: “It’s something I have never had before. It took some anxiety away from me.”

The French singer-songwriter also told The Daily Telegraph that anyone who thought she may have fallen for Mr Sarkozy because of his power “did not know her psychology at all”.

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (right), looks to her husband President Nicolas Sarkozy, during a parade at The Royal Hospital Chelsea in London
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy looks to her husband, Nicolas Sarkozy, during a parade at The Royal Hospital Chelsea in London (PA)

She said: “Those people who think I love him for his power? Power? They don’t understand my psychology at all.”

She also revealed that the former President has been learning English and can now “even understand English people with posh accents”.

“So every day he gets up at dawn and studies for an hour and a half before work and now he speaks English with everyone. Completely fluent at 62, unbelievable,” she told the Daily Telegraph.

She added: “He can even understand English people with posh accents. He is very excessive and focused.

“When he’s working: voila, he’s working. When he’s exercising, he’s cycling 50 miles. He needs the adrenalin.”

Prior to marrying Mr Sarkozy, she was romantically linked to Sir Mick Jagger and Eric Clapton.