Argh You Experienced?
With the latest Pirates Of The Caribbean installment released this month, Roe McDermott somehow manages to keep her cool in the face of Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Ian McShane...
Roe McDermott, 31 May 2011
A funny game goes on among journalists at round table interviews, as everyone tries to act nonchalantly about the experience of meeting some of the world’s most iconic actors. Speaking as though they’re close personal friends is crucial to the process and so you hear a lot of statements like “Leo was in great form. I’m so relieved, the poor boy was exhausted the last time I saw him – he must have taken my advice about that lavender oil.” So when journalists literally leap from their seats, running towards an actor so fast that they dodge the grasp of shouting security men just to beg the star for a photograph, you know you’re in the presence of someone really special. You’re in the presence of Johnny Depp.
Over in London to promote On Stranger Tides, the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Depp deals with the crazed fans like the professionals they aren’t, somehow managing not to run away in terror. In fact he seems buoyant, clearly still buzzing from filming the latest fantastical adventure in the series, which to date has grossed over two-and-a-half billion dollars. “Yeah, it’d be really interesting to make a film that everyone would hate for a change,” jokes Johnny, “I’ve done that before haven’t I? You’re just too kind and don’t want to mention the film, do you?”
But though his career has been littered with all manner of quirky characters, from the awkward Edward Scissorhands through Willy Wonka to the bipolar Mad Hatter, he admits that returning to his tic-laden Jack Sparrow is both a blast and a luxury.
“It also gives me the opportunity to wear women’s undergarments beneath my costume,” he kids. “It’s just so much fun to get away with things you’re not normally allowed to get away with, to be totally irreverent, to play as absurd as you like – so it’s a very special opportunity.”
Depp’s inspiration for the character (cross-dressing aside, we assume) came from Rolling Stone guitarist Keith Richards, who makes cameos as Jack’s father in At World’s End and On Stranger Tides. Depp admits he was nervous playing opposite him. “It was very strange initially when getting the character’s main ingredients together, and thinking about mixing Keith Richards and Pepe Le Peu. I didn’t fear Pepe Le Peu, but I was worried about Keith – because it could have gone either way! But he was very nice about it. To then be able to bring him into the film and do scenes with him, was amazing.”
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