Cancellation boosts Carla Bruni baby talk

Published on 10/05/2011 17:04

France's first lady, Carla Bruni, has cancelled a red-carpet appearance at the Cannes film festival because of "personal reasons", feeding rumours that she might be pregnant.

Bruni, 43, a former supermodel who married French president Nicolas Sarkozy three years ago, played a small role in director Woody Allen's movie Midnight in Paris, which opens this year's festival on France's Cote d'Azur.

Bruni said she would not be able to attend today's opening for both personal and professional reasons. In recent weeks, Bruni has fanned media rumours that she is expecting by evading questions and saying that she does not want to talk because she has something to protect.

When asked on RTL radio, she again declined to comment, saying that it was a "private question".

"I want to protect my private and family life," said Bruni.