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JOHNNY DEPP - I WAS A WEIRD KID

The TV star who became a film star. HIT! met the sympathetic breakaway-actor in London.

He was known for his role in the teenage-police series 21 Jump Street alongside Richard Grieco. Since then Johnny Depp has specialized in unusual roles: He attracted the attention to himself for the first time on the big screen as Edward Scissorhands. In Arizona Dream he had an affair with an ageing woman as well as with her daughter at the same time. Right now he plays another weird role in Benny and Joon HIT!-reporter Pauline Haldane met the actor for an interview at the Lanesborough Hotel in London. They talked about childhood and career.

Did you show any signs as a child that you were destined to play weird roles?

I think so. As a boy my parents always said, I was a weird kid. Most of all because I always did everything twice. Honest. For instance, if I drank a glass of Cola, I would put the glass down, take it in my hand again, raise it to my mouth and drink. And that did not only happen with a few things - I really repeated everything I did. I think my parents were very nervous about it.

Does it mean anything for you that you always play weird characters?

No, not at all. I chose this part because I wanted to work with the director who made this film. So I was lucky that they picked me for this unusual part. But I have never chosen to play weird character for this purpose only.

Do you have any influence on the characters you play?

Sometimes I do have some influence. It was at worst when I played in 21 Jump Street. I was very naive then. They gave us the script the day before we would film the episode. There was no possibility to change anything. Even if I had a line that seemed totally unreliable to my character, I had to follow the script word-for-word. That was very hard for me. So hard that I almost developed persecution mania.

And how was it with the script for Benny and Joon?

When I saw the script for the first time, I was far from carried away. I thought that Sam, the character I play, seemed very unsympathetic. He imitates scenes from old movies - only to attract attention. I changed it in a way so that he really needs the attention. I like the idea, that someone is alone and deserted - like a little dog.

Do you sometimes see yourself as a little deserted dog?

(He laughs) No, I am a big old dog with a gigantic nose. That is how I often see myself when I watch my own movies. I only see my own movies at the premieres. Everybody else can see me in a film with normal eyes, but all I see on the screen is my big face. I am up there with my gigantic nose.

What do you think of Benny and Joon?

As I saw the movie at the premiere, I did unfortunately see some faults that I made. They made me really start sometimes. But all in all I think it is a good movie. Unfortunately, it cures no diseases, but it makes you feel good and cheerful.

Which scene was the most difficult in Benny and Joon?

There is a scene where Sam is swinging in front of a window several stories up. The scene was filmed twice; once with a stuntman and once with me. (He laughs) They filmed it with the stuntman in case I should fall down, I think.

How about the Charlie Chaplin imitation?

Well, that was really the most difficult scene for me; as I should make the scene with the dancing bread loaves. You see, I did not want to copy Charlie Chaplin, because no one can do this kind of thing as good as the master himself.

Will you ever play a normal person?

(He laughs) At the moment I am preparing for a film with the director Edward Scissorhands. We would like to tell the story of Edward Wood. He was - in his own way - a brilliant filmmaker. (He directed movies like Plan 9 from Outer Space, which is probably one of the worst movies ever made - red.) Ed Wood was different from everybody else. He loved wearing ladies undergarments, and he was a heterosexual crossdresser. Above all he was a very interesting person. Even in the actors' circles he ensured to attract attention to his person.

Did you make any specific preparations for this part?

(Johnny laughs) If I dropped my pants here and now you would see, that I am wearing ladies undergarments. They even suit me. Honest. I have read Ed Wood's fascinating biography "Nightmare of Ecstasy", seen a documentary about him and seen his movies.

You also make music?

Since I was 14 I have played serious guitar. But I do not want release a record under the name Johnny Depp. I do not want people to buy it in the light of the name I have built up as an actor. If I ever do release a record it will be with an anonymous name.

Furthermore you also like to write?

Yes. I like that a lot. Together with my brother Danny, I have made a script, which we have presented to all the big studios. So wait and see, perhaps it will result in a movie.

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