TAKING ON AN UNUSUAL NEW LOOK FOR HIS LATEST MOVIE - JOHNNY DEPP
INTERVIEWED AT HIS U.K. FILM SET, THE UNCONVENTIONAL HEART-THROB TALKS ABOUT WHERE HE STANDS ON THE HOLLYWOOD SCENE
Johnny Depp wouldn't call himself a film star, but most people would. From his first action break in "Nightmare on Elm Street" his career has moved to heady heights with movies such as What's Eating Gilbert Grape? , Dead Man, Arizona Dream and, most recently, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. And, of course the two Eds: Edwards Scissorhands and Ed Wood, which stand as two of the 90's most widely-acclaimed cult films.
Apart from his hell-raiser reputions - which he denies - Johnny's private life also has it's turbulent side, too. Divorced at 22, he has since put several broken engagements behind him - American actress Winona Ryder being the last person he is said to have proposed to. A stormy relationship with British top model Kate Moss, meanwhile, refuelled the interest of the gossip columns before their split in 1997. (P) Now 35, and with a dramitic new look for his latest horror-cum-romance movie Sleepy Hollow, Johnny seems to be developing a quieter and more mature persona.
Speaking to HELLO! in London, on the film set, he remained tight-lipped about his relationship with French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis, rumoured to be expecting his child. But this unconventional star, whose gentle and thoughtful demeanour contrasts with the popularly-held image of him, did give a fascinating insight into just where he fits into the Hollywood Scene.
It's late and you're still shooting. Tell us about a usual day on the set.
"Movie sets are boring. It's only two or three minutes when you get a chance to play during the scene. The rest of the time they're building the shots."
What's the difference between a movie star and an actor?
"A film star to me is someone like Cary Grant. Cary Grant was a great film star, and a good actor as well. Humphrey Bogart, too. And then there are great actors who are not necessarily good at being film stars. Marlon Brando was a great actor, but I don't think he was ever very happy being considered a film star."
How would you consider yourself?
"I make a living. I definitely wouldn't call myself a film star. I'm much more 'in the trenches' than sort of glittery - I'm not very good at that!"
You started with music and then went onto acting. Do you remember the exact moment when you switched?
"I was a musician for many years and that's where I thought my future was. One day, I was walking down the street with a friend of mine who's an actor, and I was filling out job applications at the time because there wasn't a whole lot of money coming in to buy cigaretts and such, and he said: 'Hey, I think you're an actor and don't really know it. You should meet my agent.'
"So I met his agent and she sent me to a casting director. The director I read for gave me the job."
Do you remember what the movie was?
"My first movie was Nightmare On Elm Street. So for the first couple of years I was a musician who had found a way to pay the rent. Movies were a hobby.
When did it become a full-time job?
"After two or three films. The band I was in had broken up and I figured - this is it. This is what I'm meant to be doing. So then I went and started to learn about it."
So you took it seriously?
"As seriously as you can take this kind of job. I mean there's nothing worse than someone who considers themselves a serious actor. Because an actor is essentially a liar. So the job is to be a good a liar as you can be. You pretent, so it's not very serious."
Are you still into music?
"Yes. Music is still my first love."
When do you play?
"Whenever I get a chance. Wherever I travel I have a guitar with me. I'm constantly playing. I just don't do it professionally."
You own a club in Los Angeles. Can you tell us about that?
"It's called The Viper Room. It's a small bar and we have live music - we've had the best of the best."
Are you active in the club?
"I don't really know how to do the business side of it. For me, it's just a great place to hang out - initially because I didn't like any of the other places."
You didn't have any place to go out?!
"I didn't like any other place in Los Angeles. Everywhere else you went you were kind of assaulted by other people's music. And there's something missing in Hollywood. That sense of nostalgia for the 1920s. So when I built The Viper Room, I built it in that style - an old speakeasy."
When you're not in Los Angeles, where do you go to have fun. Paris? London?
"Any of those places. I love travelling. If I'm in one place for too long, I get a bit 'antsy'."
How will you spend this weekend?
"I'm actually going to spend the weekend travelling. I'm going to go to France and visit some close friends."
Paris?
"Yes. Paris for a bit then down to the south."
What do you like best about acting?
"Well, it's given me great opportunities. Allowed me to meet many people, travel, live comfortably, help my family if they need help. It's provided a strange foundation for me."
What's your dream role?
"I thought for many years it would be nice to be involved with bringing On the Road, the Jack Kerouace novel, to the screen. But now I'm not so sure. It's such a precious thing that every individual should have their own special images from the book. No, there's no particular role I'm dying to play."
Is there anything you've done that you regret?
"No. The only regret is probably a couple of people I should have hit!"
You've developed a wild repuation.
"No, the press developed that. They did that. The only reason they portray me as wild is because they need to have a name for the product. I'm just a normal guy with a slightly strange job."
Are you politcally involved?
"I'm not the bandwagon type. If there's something I truly believe in then I will support it.
"Important things to me would be the Make A Wish Foundation for example, which makes children diagnosed as very, very ill have their dreams come true."
You sound very warm about children.
"Well, very warm about human beings in general."
You have two sisters and a brother. Are they all married?
"Yes, and I have nieces and nephew. I see them all as much as I can. I'm the only one not married yet."
What does your mother say?
"She's fine. She's OK. She knows it will come."
Why do you think everybody is so fascinated with models and actors?
"Some kind of mistake somewhere along the road. The machine that runs - the selling of magazines, TV and all that stuff - puts a beautiful icing around it all and makes them seem appealing and mysterious and they shove that down people's throats."
Do you feel it's part of the job to be a sex symbol?
"I would never consider myself that. And if I did, I hope someone would come up with a 15lb sledgehammer and just let me have it! What can you say about that kind of stuff? It's not something you ever get used to. I certainly haven't and I hope I don't because it's not normal."
There is a lot of money in this profession, do you think it's justified?
It's insane, but if someone wants to hand it to you you have to take it. I don't mind the money, but I won't sell out for the money."
What do you think is the biggest misconception about you?
"Probably the biggest misconception is that I'm funny. I'm not very funny, in fact."
What is your best role or movie?
"I'm proud of every single one. I think the once-in-a-lifetime deal was Edward Scissorhands. When the chance came for me to play Edward Scissorhands, it was a real turning point for me. It was a very magical time."
Similar interview - Bunte #1/99 - translated from German by Mitch
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