Daughter's illness spurs Johnny Depp to finally marry Vanessa Paradis

Stephanie, who is in her 40s, said: 'The villagers couldn't be happier for them. But the truth of the matter is, they are such a private family we probably won't know they have married until after the event. There don't court attention. They love it here because they can blend in and just be a normal family.'

Depp bought his French villa seven years ago from a German family for ￡750,000. Dotted around the vast grounds are five other houses, occupied the housekeeper, gardener and security. The tiny chapel is behind the house on the edge of the vineyards.

There is no give-away that this is the residence of one of Hollywood’s greatest actors. Even the security cameras are out of sight, hidden in the trees. But step inside the house and there would be no mistaking.

It has every modern luxury. The master bedroom even has its own swimming pool. A second, much larger pool is located in the garden alongside the vegetable and herb patch.

They have four ponies for the children and a playground with swings, a slide and a sandpit. Depp fell in love with France while shooting The Ninth Gate there in 1998.

Although Depp is not fluent in French he happily converses with the locals, few of whom speak a single word of English. Lily Rose, who is bilingual, has been heard many times correcting her father.

The actor has cited his children as a primary reason for his flight to France, saying he wanted them to 'grow up in a very simple and calm environment, where everything is not about the next movie or the next success'.

The doting dad added: "I love the simple things: the sunrise, the trees, the countryside. I can take a ride into the village and have a coffee with my girl, and people say: "Hello Johnny. How are you?" I'm not looking around for the paparazzi.'