Tautou's Struggle With Fame Game

French actress AUDREY TAUTOU was sickened by the way her life changed after becoming a celebrity - when a man kissed her without permission to win a bet.

The Da Vinci Code star shot to international stardom after her roles in French cult film Amelie and the big-screen adaptation of Dan Brown's hit book - but has struggled with losing her anonymity.

And the star, who replaced Nicole Kidman as the new spokesmodel for iconic fragrance Chanel No.5 last month (May08), was shocked at the way strangers started treating her.

She tells Britain's Daily Express newspaper, "I remember when I became very famous after Amelie. I was in a restaurant for my birthday with a friend. There was a huge table of people beside us and I was not really aware of this new celebrity I was experiencing.

"A guy came over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I was shocked. Then he went back to his table and everybody was applauding him like he had won a bet. I was traumatised. I had become a bet!

But the beauty has now come to terms with her fame.

She adds, "But now I've accepted the situation and I know how to handle it better."