Johnny Depp in Paradise
We expected him to be grunge and rebel but the hero from the new Tim Burton movie is a quiet father who swims in the blue, between Vanessa Paradis and the little Lilly-Rose. Meeting with a star who decided to protect his family and keep it far from the trouble of fame.

Interview by Louise Finlay
Pictures by Patrick Demarchalier
Translation : Corinne

" It smells wet paint " says Johnny Depp opening the door of the suite reserved for him at the Ritz hotel in Paris. Then he ordered a coca and take his Drum tobacco packet. Less addicted to cigarette than to Vanessa, he sweetly calls " My girl " (in English in the text), and to Lilly6rose Melody Depp their 8 months daughter, Johnny seems to have finally found his two reasons to live at the age of 36. Add to this a Cesar (French Movie Academy award) and the first leading role in "Sleepy Hollow", an horror film directed by Tim Burton that reached the box office in the States and you'd understand why the actor is in Heaven. He doesn't fear saying it. Even if he's not dressed up like he was going to a gala evening : he's wearing his black knit "Viper room" (his famous night club in Los Angeles) cap, a worn out tee shirt and his famous boots without socks, Johhny Depp is surely more handsome, more charming and sweeter than ever. When the press relation told him it was the end for the interview, he just answered with a smile on his face :"I refuse to leave !" before kissing you and taking back his road to happiness.

Elle : Sleepy Hollow is a blockbuster in the States. Did you expect such a success ?
Johnny Depp : Not at all but I'm really happy about it. After 16 years in this industry I finally happen to play in a movie which is a big success at the box office !

Elle : In this movie you portray Ichabod Crane, a policeman. A kind of drop out, like most of the characters you happen to play before …
JD : I'm deeply obsessed by the idea that some people could be considered as drop outs. I would particularly like someone to explain me for once what "normal" means. People best accepted in society, best accomplished in their daily life, those you call "neat" so, these are the ones I find the most scaring. I don't know if I'm the one who hasn't the faintest idea or if there's something rotten that lies beneath it.

Elle : But we can say you belong to this kind of "establishment" for you received an award from the French Movie Academy, last year …
JD : Yes, but I still haven't received this famous little medal you know the "legion d'honneur", like Sharon Stone or Gong Li or Polanski did ! Maybe next year ! (He laughs.)

Elle : When you came on stage to receive this prize you looked terribly anxious. Why was it so ?
JD : I don't like to talk in front in public. Of course, it was a great honor for in France, in the movie industry, you find much more honesty and integrity. French people really appreciate those who dare taking high risks in their carreer. But the fact of being applauded and celebrated made me ill at ease. It's like when they gave me this star on Hollywood Boulevard. A reporter even asked me "Why do you take it after all these years you spent fighting the Hollywoodian system ?" I thought about it and the only true answer is "Why not ?" It's kind of cool and after all my daughter would be able to look at it.

Elle : When he introduced you for this French Movie Academy award, the actor Pascal Gregory seemed totally bowled over; Are close to him ?
JD : We met in 1991 for we had a common friend who is François-Marie Barnier, a photographer, writer and painter … Since that day, Pascal and I became friends, he actually came to visit me home in Los Angeles. He's a fantastic actor.

Elle : Were you offered to play in French movies since you've lived in France ?
JD : Yes, some but my French is not as good as they say !

Elle : You mean you haven't make any progress with the language ?
JD : It's a very difficult language but I do hope one day i will play a part all in French.

Elle : With Vanessa Paradis on your side ?
JD : No doubt. Aside the fact that we are very proud parents and that we share such an incredible life together I do have a profound respect for her as an actress. When you see "Girl on the bridge" you can't deny this fact, her performance was just perfect.

Elle : is it true you wrote some of the songs from her next LP ?
JD : When Vanessa and I first met, she was already working on her new songs; I bought her a guitar and as she didn't know how to play (he laughs) i taught her some few things about it. She made a lot of progress; I admire her for, for the first time, she composed the songs on her own accompanying her with the piano or the guitar. There were times when she was looking for inspiration and couldn't find a link between a melody and some words she came to me asking for advice; I just showed her some tricks, and that's it !

Elle : What do you know about French music ?
JD : While we were shooting "The ninth gate" in Paris with Polanski, i drawn myself into Gainsbourg music and lyrics so deeply that i fell in love with him. I also like Jacques Dutronc, the man is just killing me ! His music is so much like my friend Iggy's. It's both ironic and tough at the same time !

Elle : Many times you have shown a deep respect for women. You must be really happy to be the father of a little girl.
JD : Absolutely right ! The fact that my first kid happens to be a girl is a real blessing to me. At the same time, it's a curse for the day she'll break hearts they would probably lock me up in a psychiatric institution.

Elle : Director Terry Gilliam said your daughter makes you nuts …
JD : It's worst than this ! I'm so proud of her and let's not talk about my good intentions, that I became the cliché of the perfect dad; I take her pictures with me everywhere I go and you can't stop me talking about her and Vanessa all the time…

Elle : Is it true what they say that when she was born you were the one to cut the umbilical cord ?
JD : Sure thing. I didn't want any stranger to cut this link between us and our daughter. But I must admit it's pretty weird ! I wish Tim Burton could have one just to see his face when he comes to cut the umbilical cord !

Elle : Do you also change her diapers ?
JD : Yes I do and I'm pretty good at it. In the morning I prepare her baby bottle and I give it to her. Talking about burps, I'm not that bad too, they call me "the king of burps" !

Elle : It's almost prestigious as being honored with the "legion d'Honneur" …
JD : Its' very much better !

Elle : Will you give her something of your culture and roots ?
JD : Obviously, French will be her native language. But it is important that she speaks English. I'd also like her to know my country but I do not have any will for her to be grown up in this country. You know we've been too far in America. It's too nuts, too greedy, too much everything …

Elle : Do you prefer France ?
JD : Yes, I feel much better in this country. Of course I do miss my family and my friends but I can easily live without the American way of life, you know people going nuts in the traffic jar, the news on TV with hallucinating facts due to ignorance and all these fans who are chasing me …

Elle : But in France paparazzi are after you too ?
JD : Yes, but in America, you meet real mad and dangerous people hanging around my house, ringing at my door bell to offer me their hair for 80 000 dollars or who are deeply convinced to have been living in my kidneys. I had the whole thing ! (he laughs) That's the reason why, as long as we can, we would spend our life in France.

Elle : You often used to say that you perfectly pictured yourself living in France with a wife, kids and a country house. Today, we can say you did it. Do you believe in destiny ?
JD : Yes, sincerely. I came to France in 1989 for the first time and I felt attracted to Paris, without knowing why. I would even say that even before knowing them or before knowing I was about to have a baby, Vanessa and Lilly Rose wanted me to be here. Today, I'm really happy and pretty much more than I have ever been in my whole life.

Elle : Both, Vanessa and you are actors and musicians, close to your families … Could you say you have found your soul mate ?
JD : Yes, Vanessa is someone really special, quite unique.

Elle : What is your future like ?
JD : First of all, I do want safety for my family. I dream of a place where we could live like anyone and where our daughter wouldn't be treated as a freak.

Elle : That's not particularly easy in Paris …
JD : True, but who knows at the countryside maybe ? My dream ? Walking in the streets with my daughter on my side without being pictured. I do not care if paparazzi harass us, I mean Vanessa and I know how to protect us. On the contrary if they are after our kid, I will take my revenge.

Elle : You mean you will sue them ?
JD : No way, trials do not make any difference. No kidding, I will eat them alive. Lilly Rose is an innocent little girl who didn't ask anything at all, so leave her alone.

Elle : What is the most radical change she brought in your life ?
JD : Before her birth, I was living in a kind of fog. The second she was born, everything lighted up. All of a sudden I realized I had Vanessa, the most beautiful gift I have ever received in my life, and Lilly Rose.

Elle : I read somewhere your mother would really like to see you married to Vanessa ?
JD : But you know we are almost married. Vanessa is my wife and I, I'm her husband. We don't care to have a piece of paper to prove it. Someday, maybe, Lilly Rose will come and ask us why aren't we married ? Now, I don't want to ruin Vanessa last name with my awful Depp name. It's so pretty Vanessa Paradis !

Elle : You often talk about your "demons". Are they still there ?
JD : Some of them have been exorcised. But you have to keep a sort of unbalance behind balance. I've been for a long time my worst enemy, I used to take substances to escape reality to soften my pain … When I got up in the morning I took a drink. It was awful to be in this state of mind. Now I really appreciate to get up and see the morning coming. I do not want any longer my days melting into my nights. Give yourself a try : go out at night without drinking alcohol or taking drugs and you will see how silly people of the night are.

Elle : Let's talk about your projects.
JD : It's amazing to see that I'm going to portray a drugs dealer (He laughs) in "Blow" a movie directed by Ted Demme. Its' based on a true story, George Jung, a student, had become Pablo Escobar's right-hand man. I have to go to the jail where they took him to spend few days with him.

Elle : Did they prepare a cell for you ?
JD : I just hope they won't make me sleep over there.

Elle : You've already been locked up for few nights in jail.
JD : Yes, but lucky me I'm still "virgin" if you know what I mean; (He laughs)

Elle : Will you take your family with you on the set ?
JD : There is no way I could be parted from them. Lilly Rose is changing everyday and I don't want to miss a single moment of that.

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