There are a handful of actors in Hollywood who, despite having starred in dozens of successful films, are not classified as “movie stars.” Sure, people know their names and acknowledge the fact that they can carry a film on their own, but when someone asks who the most successful stars are in the entertainment business, their names are usually forgotten. Johnny Depp is one of these actors.
Depp, who made his feature film debut in 1984’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” has appeared in over 30 projects throughout the past two decades. Despite his memorable performances in blockbusters such as “Edward Scissorhands” and Sleepy Hollow though, Depp is legendary for his roles in cult favorites like “Ed Wood” and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Even with his latest project, the mainstream Fox movie From Hell, Depp acknowledges that he’s better known for some of his lesser-seen roles. In From Hell, Depp plays inspector Fred Abberline, a man whose addiction to opium enables him to see the future. Among his visions are the future victims of the serial killer known only as Jack the Ripper.
When I met up with Depp at the Ritz Carlton in Marina del Rey, he was not only dressed for the occasion (he wore a three-piece, pin-striped suit) but also ready to talk about From Hell despite the fact that our nation went to war only a few hours beforehand. As we discussed the film and his own career, Depp was open to why he feels he is not bunched with the Tom Cruises and Julia Roberts of our generation. While this could bug some actors who strive to be the next $30 million star, Depp admits that his own decisions play a key part in why he is not seen as a huge star — and that honestly he could care less.
Get the interview in part two of IN DEPPTH: A JOHNNY DEPP INTERVIEW>>>
