Return to Interview page

Interview #1, Friday 26th July '02

Edith Bowman: Firstly, can you tell me how this amazing story of 'Lost in La Mancha' came about?

Johnny Depp: There were a bunch of people who went to Spain, desperate to make a film called 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'…And God and everyone else decided to go against them and tell them not to make the film. And it was stupid and they kept making the film… Until one day, it was completely over.

EB: He couldn't have foreseen any of the things that went wrong in the film, really, could you?

JD: Absolutely. One minute the sun is shining; everything is beautiful; we're making this great film; and suddenly this F14 zooms in and drops a bomb. And we shrug that off and the next thing you know, this enormous cloud arrives. And we were covered in water and half the gear is floating down this desert - what was the desert, which is now a stream. It could get worse. Everyone could have just dropped dead, y'know?

EB: Everyone talks about the curse of Don Quixote. Is there one?

JD: Yeah, it was rough going. We experienced what we experienced on this go-round. So I think we should just pick up the pieces and try it again. And we'll go to Morocco this time.

EB: Check the weather forecast!

JD: Less rain, less cloud.

EB: Well, good luck, and I hope it eventually gets made.

JD: Me too. Me too.

ED: It would be a real shame if it doesn't. Oh! Last thing -

JD: What?

EB: Have you been watching 'Big Brother' while you've been here?

JD: You can't avoid it. You see it everywhere - like in the newspapers there's always something about... They've been slagging off that poor girl -

EB: Jade.

JD: I want her to win, poor thing. They haven't left her alone.

EB: Yeah, I want her to win too. She needs the money.

JD: Yeah, bless her heart. She should win. Jade should win. Good luck, Jade.

=============

Interview #2, Monday 29th July '02
[Like Part I, this interview is inter-cut with lots of small clips from LILM.]

Edith Bowman: You've done so many films. What was it about this -

Johnny Depp: Too many!

EB: Really?

JD [laughing]: I've done too many films!

EB: Naw! What was it about this film, 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote', that first attracted you to want to be part of it?

JD: Well, the first thing was Terry. I really love him. I love him and he's a great friend. And I had such a great time with him on 'Fear & Loathing' that I'd have done basically anything he wanted.

EB: Why is he so special?

JD: Well, there's only one of him. Really. Truly. I mean, truly there's only one Terry Gilliam. Truly there's only one human being like that, with that vision. He's so special, and so creative, and so tireless. He gets in there and works like a dog. That kind of boundless energy that Terry has. And it's infectious, you know? When he's working, everyone around him becomes like: "Oh, my god..!". And it feeds people's creativity, y'know?

============
Longer clip of Terry showing JD the storyboards for the film, and explaining which actors will be playing which roles:
JD [pointing at the storyboard]: That's Bob Hoskins, and - Terry Gilliam: And Danny de Vito.
JD: And Ian -
TG: Ian Holm. All put together.
JD: Bastard child..
TG: And he's a dwarf!
JD: Oh, OK!
TG: And he sings opera.
=============

JD: I've learned a lot from Terry.. Yeah! Number one: Humour. Keep the humour, regardless.

EB: Was it nice, having the prospect of working with Vanessa in this film? I know you didn't actually get to shoot anything…

JD: We got to rehearse! [laughing] We got to read through stuff! Yeah, it was. It was great, because we knew we were going to be together for a certain amount of time, and I didn't have to haul ass anywhere and shoot something, and she didn't have to go anywhere to shoot something, or sing, or whatever. So it was nice.

EB: Now, we all know you're a big fan of The Fast Show.

JD: Yeah.

EB: Huge fan. And it's finished. Is your life empty as a result?

JD: Here's the deal. I've somehow managed to miraculously get Paul Whitehouse to do a couple of days on this film that I'm doing, this 'Neverland'. When he's there, when I'm with him, I'm going to hammer him; I'm just gonna nail him until he agrees to do either a film of The Fast Show or, maybe, you know, one more series.

EB: [laughing]: Just some personal copies for you.

JD: Oh, yes, I can do it for me, on the film lot!

EB: Suits you, sir!

JD: Those guys are so amazing.