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Italian Vanity Fair - October 9, 2003 Man of the Week Rogue? In the past he was one in his real life, today he plays it only in the movies. In his private life, however, he confesses to Paola Jacobbi that he has completely changed. But not everyone believes him… Johnny DEPP goodbye reckless life If he is in an airport and notices approaching Customs officers, or any uniformed two-legged creature for that matter, Johnny Depp is likely to immediately have an anxiety attack. On the other hand, the special attention is mutual. He always gets stopped, because his notoriety as a wicked, rebel, bad boy precedes him. The last time it happened in Miami. He was arriving from Lima, Peru. They opened his suitcase, which appeared to be sprinkled with a white powder. He was questioned and the white substance was analyzed. It turned out to be crushed pills of Vitamin C. “Please accept our apologies, Mr. Depp,” said the Customs officers, but they must also have thought, “He’s not the same person he used to be.” That's true. Today Johnny Depp is a high-end foreigner, a quiet American relocated in France, living between a house in the countryside, 20 miles from Nice, and a few escapes to Paris with his companion, French actress Vanessa Paradis. They met five years ago: for her and for their two children (Lily-Rose and Jack, 4 and 1 respectively) Johnny said goodbye to his reckless lifestyle. Today his hellish adventure (with several girlfriends, drugs, and destruction of hotel rooms) has become a moral parable: from depravation to salvation, journey to the abyss and back, lost youth and serene maturity. A happy ending, for now, one of those that would put a smile on the face of the producers of ultra-sweet melodramas. Today only a few details betray a wild past: a few tattoos on the skin, dust on the all-weather boots, like those of a rock-star (or a home hobbyist?), a hole in his pants, at the right knee level. It is not because of sloppiness: his clothing is exclusive vintage. Johnny Depp is wearing glasses, rimless. Habit or short-sightedness? “Both. I have very mild short-sightedness and I hope they give me a more intelligent look. Only kidding, I like eyeglasses, I practically have a collection of them.” I see a woolen cap like the one in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest peaking from one of your pockets. Do you also collect hats? “No, this is the official cap from my club in Los Angeles, the Viper Room. It is a strategic good luck charm; I use it to escape from paparazzi.” Eight years ago you punched one in London. Are you still so aggressive? “No, definitely not. I have changed. I would never do anything like that now.” Johnny, have you become a good boy? “Actually we should thank technology: the paparazzi now have better lenses and can stay farther away. They can still photograph me, but they do not come too close.” Last June you turned 40. How did you celebrate? “With dinner with my family, at the home of some friends in Portugal, where Vanessa was working. I went to meet her there with the children, we were 10 at the dinner table, we went to bed early. Vanessa gave me this golden ring with the face of an Indian Chief, while Lily-Rose gave me this bracelet with wooden hearts that she had made.” And the next morning what did you think when you looked at yourself in the mirror? “I said to myself: knock on wood man! You have good luck, a great job, a girl who loves you, two wonderful children. The idea of turning 40 did not scare me at all. I was more scared when I turned 30. We can say that I spent the last 10 years preparing for the moment. And now I am ready for 50. And that’s because my idol is Keith Richards, who, at 60, is still the king of rock-and-roll.” But looking at you it seems you have abandoned any ambition to be a rebel: life at home, monogamy, even a movie produced by Disney, Pirates of the Caribbean… “I realized a childhood dream, I adored pirates. I love the idea of adventure and freedom.” However pirates are what they are: pirates, bandits, plunderers… “I have a romantic view of piracy: piracy from the heart, with its own code of honor. I identify with the image of the gentleman pirate.” Is this your attitude in relating to women? “Chivalry, in my opinion, has never died. One should make way for ladies, open doors for them, send them flowers, always be polite. And I feel like adding: one should marry them.” Speaking of which, how come you have not married Vanessa yet? “Because she has the most beautiful last name, Paradis: I do not want to spoil her name with mine…Vanessa Depp would not be as charming. I agree, it’s only a joke, do not give such a bad look. Now I will tell you why Vanessa and I are not married. We have been together for five years, we are a family as one can be, but we never felt the need to make it official. But lately Vanessa has started to ask me. We have talked extensively about it, and together we have decided to wait a little longer: we would like for the children to be a bit older, so they can truly enjoy the occasion. I envision a gypsy feast, with Bregovic kind of music.” You are growing roots in France: How important is for you the place where you have chosen to live? “Very important. I try to stay here as much as possible. I go to the other house, the one in Los Angeles, only when I have to work. Above all, I want my children to have one place, one single place, that they can call home. My family life was nomadic. I changed cities and schools constantly. At age twelve I was already a misfit. I do not want the same to happen to Lily-Rose and Jack. As a father I am a disaster… What do you mean? “As most of my generation, I am more childish that my own children. Therefore too permissive, unable to impose even the most basic rules, like time for bed, junk food, useless toys. When Vanessa is not home, Lily-Rose and I sleep in the garden, in a tent, like the gypsies. We enjoy it, but then Vanessa finds out and she gets upset.” What language do you use for arguing? “Always in English, even though my French is improving. I tried to learn it especially to communicate with Lily-Rose, who, until last year, only used her mother’s language. Now she is perfectly bilingual, but, at least when we travel through France, I do not look so bad: a father who does not understand his own daughter’s language!” You have never worked with Vanessa. Is this a choice, so the children are not left alone? “It is simply the way things have worked out, but we would love to be in the same movie. We even tried in Lost in La Mancha, directed by Terry Gilliam. But due to some financial difficulties and a series of unfortunate events, the project was stopped after only 6 days of work. We will try again, perhaps with a French director, so we will not have to travel too far.” Have you become a French patriot? “In a way I have. I do appreciate the French for several reasons: for example they have not agreed to go to war in Iraq, while my compatriots came out with idiotic ideas such as renaming french fries from fast food joints “freedom fries”. It is self-explanatory, don’t you think?” >>
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