The country that brought us berets, Juliette Binoche, the cancan and more than a few kinds of cheese has really outdone itself this time with the introduction of Audrey Tautou, the raven-haired, big-eyed beauty who is currently capturing the hearts of cinephiles the world over for her performance in Amélie.

A spoonful of sucre: Adding a dash of magic in Amelie.

In her native France, Tautou was already on her way to the top before taking the lead in the Jean-Pierre Jeunet-directed fairy tale, in which she plays a shy waitress who secretly sets out to better life for her wacky neighbors.

After a couple of television roles, the 23-year-old won a Cesar (the French equivalent of Oscar) for playing a beautician in Tonie Marshall's Venus Beauty Institute.

Destined to be one of the feel-good films of the year, Amélie is also becoming culturally significant. It has inspired a Rachel-size trend at salons to get Amélie's unique 'do (a layered bob with bangs).

And not only has her character inspired the sales of theme baguettes across the City of Lights, but the actress herself can no longer walk the streets unnoticed. Tautou already has three French films lined up for 2002 and recently began work in England on a Stephen Frears (Liam, High Fidelity) movie, Happenstance, in which she'll speak English onscreen for the first time.

Which got us to wondering...

Now that her English is getting better, how long until she heads to Hollywood to make a big studio blockbuster? "I have no plans to. Jean-Pierre told me about his adventures in Los Angeles. I am happy just making French movies...although I like American films, and I admire the work of the Coen brothers, Woody Allen and Tim Burton."

Throughout Amélie, the movie depicts a few of every character's likes and dislikes. Does she have her own personal list? "I like the cloud of milk when you put it in tea, the smell of gasoline and lights through a windowpane. I don't like to receive a postcard and not recognize the signature. And I don't like a limp handshake or the smell of a cigar."

What attracted her to the part? "I found the script so beautiful and so positive. The night I read it, I couldn't sleep. I was watching my ceiling and thinking, Omigod, that is life. I don't disagree when people call it a fairy tale, because it's not a true story, but I like that with a little bit of imagination, everybody can act like Amélie. We got a lot of letters telling us what people did after watching the movie to change something in their lives or their neighbors'."

Just teasing: Venus Beauty Institute won Tautou the French Oscar.

How did she feel when she got the part? "When I knew I had the role--I am actually very pessimistic--I thought, No, it's not possible. One day, he's going to call you and tell you he made a big mistake. So, I let some time go by, and when I had my costume and they'd cut my hair, I thought, Maybe it is me!"

How has Amélie changed her life? "I can walk around Paris, but there are always eyes looking at me. The difference is now there are people recognizing me. The change is brutal. I can't reverse it."

Why does she think the movie has struck such a chord? "It's a movie you've never seen before. It's about love, generosity, the small pleasures in life, extraordinary characters and fantasies. Jean-Pierre put 25 years of anecdotes in this movie, so it's like a treasure box.

"It touches people's hearts. The world needs a movie this positive right now."