Elsa is the stage name of French singer and actress Elsa Lunghini, born in 1973. She works in pop and ballad styles and is also associated with Les Enfoirés.

Early life and family

Elsa Lunghini comes from a family with artistic connections. Her father, George Lunghini, is an actor, photographer and songwriter, and her mother, Christiane Jobert, is a painter and the sister of actress Marlène Jobert. Through her father and grandfather Luigi, she has Italian origins. Her son is also named Luigi.

Acting career

She appears in film as a child, with her first role at the age of seven in Claude Miller’s Garde à vue, a film that also stars Romy Schneider. She later also appears in television films, including La mort est rousse in 2002 and Trois jours en juin in 2004.

Music career

Elsa records as a chanteuse in French pop, with work that also includes ballads. At 13, she reaches number one with “T’en va pas”, which comes from the soundtrack to La femme de ma vie, and the song remains at the top of the French Top 50 for nine weeks. At 17, she becomes the youngest artist to perform in the main programme at the Olympia in Paris, in October 1990, and she is also the youngest artist to have a number one hit in France’s Top 50.

After several albums and film appearances, she releases De lave et de sève. She also gives concerts at L’Européen in Paris, and live CD and DVD recordings from those performances are later issued.

Public work and causes

Elsa takes part in charitable work and regularly joins the Tour of the Restos du Coeur, as well as supporting other causes such as Sol En Si. She also serves as a spokesperson for Bout de vie, an organisation that assists disabled people.

Personal life

She lives in Paris and is the partner of former football World Champion Bixente Lizarazu. They meet at a Restos du Coeur concert, where they are both performing.

Television and advertising

Elsa also works in television advertising, including campaigns for Danone yoghurt.