Johnny Depp has had a long and very successful career as a character actor, with many beloved film credits. But more recently, he’s perhaps more synonymous with his relationship with Amber Heard and their long, complicated legal battle. Depp recently admitted he was “cut off” from the world as a celebrity, saying “it’s just getting weird.” Let’s break it all down.
It’s been a few years since the Depp/Heard case received a verdict, which was largely based on Pirates of the Caribbean actor side. Despite the passage of time, he has not participated in any concerts in Hollywood, although his first post-trial film Jeanne du Barry finally arrives in the United States. While speaking with People about this film, he mentioned its connection to the film’s gossip world. As he said:
I think for someone in that position, and again, some of these things resonate for me – not that I’m a king of any kind. But it just resonates in the sense that this guy, in his circle, let’s say, in his world, had to be available at all times. And yet he was, in a sense, hidden and living his life that way. So the layers between him and the real world start to get thicker and stranger.
So. It appears Depp has found common ground with his character in his first post-trial film. Particularly because he is also a public figure who is also trying to find a little privacy from the world. After all, Depp has been living in Europe since the defamation trial ended.
It’s really interesting to see how Depp has decided to return to the public space in recent years. He appeared at the VMAs, performed on Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty show, and even took a directing job. But he hasn’t really returned to the Hollywood machine. Later in the same interview, Depp spoke about his desire to isolate himself, offering:
It has sometimes been something like that for me. …I would certainly never complain about it, but there’s a part of you that’s kind of cut off from the world. Where, if you go out, it gets weird, you know? It’s just getting weird.
It makes total sense that his level of fame could be “weird.” After all, fans were able to watch the Depp/Heard trial on TV, and it made countless headlines during that time. There are few things weirder than having your personal life become daily public news. So who can blame him for trying to find some privacy?
Only time will tell how Depp’s professional comeback continues and whether he will ever return to Hollywood. Jeanne du Barry will be released in theaters on May 2 via Fathom Events. Check out movie release dates in 2024 to plan your next trip to the movies.
