The most diverse actor to not win an Academy award...yet – Johhny Depp
The looks on the talent
The acting fraternity is littered with unrecognized talents. While many actor get to stand on the podium saying their thank yous as they hold onto to golden statue from the Academy, most do so after a grand performance in a film – usually a periodic piece or a serious drama.
But not many continue to display the eerie diversity of actor Johhny Depp yet get passed on from serious recognition. His crime? Acting in mostly fantastical films.
Johhny Depp is no doubt one of the best actors in Hollywood able to bring life to all kinds of role. His dedication to his art also means transforming his looks for every film – thus achieving the kind of film persona that is remembered for the character and not the actor. Think of Edward Scissorshands, Ichabod Crane, Jack Sparrow and Sweeny Todd as examples of complete characterization. Of course, most of these choices reflect a dark nature.
Which must make one wonder – why the preference for morbid roles?
Not everything is pretty
Johhny Depp, born John Christopher Depp II on June 9, 1963, came into a family of problems. He has a history of self-injury committed when he was young and now refers to them as marks a person makes on himself at the occurrence of certain events in his life. Much like a tattoo. Not surprisingly, he also has 13 tattoos marking significant people or events in his life – the most famous being the Wino Forver tattoo that was altered from the original Winona Forever tattoo he had while dating actress Winona Ryder whom he met while filming Edward Scissorhands.
His many tattoos
When his parents divorced at 16, Depp turned to a life of drugs and alcohol. More recently, Depp had also been arrested for trashing his hotel room and fighting with paparazzi. But all this comes with stardom, no?
His first love
It would be interesting to know then that Depp did not seek out this stardom at will. While in high school, Depp loved music and played for various garage bands. His first band, in fact, was after his first girlfriend Meredith. He dropped out of high school to pursue a musical career with his band, hoping to sign a contract. Sheepishly, Depp returned to school two weeks later, only to have the principal tell him to pursue his ambitions.
This he did. And at the age of 20, he married Lori Allison, the sister of his bandmate and the band’s make-up artist.
Though the marriage was to end eventually, his relationships consists mostly of the on-off with Kate Moss, the much talked about with Winona Ryder and his current partner Vanessa Paradis with whom he has two children, Lily-Rose Melody Depp (born May 27, 1999) and John “Jack” Christopher Depp III (born April 9, 2002).
Depp's current partner with whom he lives with in France and LA
Music, pens and Nicholas Cage
Depp’s most successful band was The Kids, which fronted for Iggy Pop. It is said that Depp was finding fame - only to have an Iggy Pop face-off in a backstage confrontation. With the band Rock City Angels, Depp co-wrote the song “Mary” in the band’s debut album. But carving a musical career in Los Angeles where he had relocated to is no easy task. And Depp was soon taking on odd jobs – including as a telemarketer selling pens.
Then, his wife introduced him to Nicholas Cage who suggested he take up acting.
Teen idol
His audition landed him a role in 21 Jump Street. And as most would know – on came stardom and fame as a teen idol. His good looks created a lot of attention – but Depp wasn’t into all that. He hated his teenybopper appeal and felt that the show 21 Jump Street was beneath him. So much did he resent it that he vowed that when his contract ended he’d take on only projects he was interested in.
Films and more films
It’s probably fitting then that his first major role in films was in Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984. If anything, it was an indication of the kind of films he would go on to make.
Depp becomes a victim of Freddy Kruger
He played a small role in 1986 in Oliver Stone’s Platoon
In Platoon (1986)
During this period, he made films such as Benny & Joon where he played a man who considered himself a reincarnation of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. In the same year, 1993, he was seen in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? as the title character opposite Leonardo Di Caprio.
In Benny & Joon
In Burton’s 1994 Ed Wood, he was once again acclaimed for his acting. Further films that helped cement his credibility and his worth in Hollywood include Dead Man (1994) where he played a 19th century accountant, Donnie Brasco (1997) in which he was an undercover FBI agent and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) where his character was far from ordinary.
In 1999 came the sci-fi horror film The Astronaut’s Wife with Charlize Theron as well as the gothic tale of Sleepy Hollow in which he played Ichabod Crane. And if that wasn’t diverse enough, he did the romantic drama Chocolat in 1999, played a cocaine-kingpin in Blow (2000),
Living life on the cocaine side of Blow
The Inspector 'From Hell'
With his own star on the Walk of Fame – and his star power was obviously rising; it was clear that Depp only picked films he fancied. The kind of movies he made was defiantly for himself. Depp himself said he never considered if a script would be a blockbuster. He even referred to some points of his filmography as ‘box-office poison’ – referring to the way they weren’t exactly mainstream cinema.
A deserving star
But his role in Pirates of the Carribbean as Captain Jack Sparrow in 2003 suddenly found him box-office success as well as an Oscar nomination. The role was quirky, humourous and selfishly heroic. And the audiences loved it. Hollywood Film Festival awarded him the best actor. Since then, he’s a staple with Disney (which would have previously avoided him and his darker roles).
The film Pirates of the Caribbean raked in USD200 million in four weeks and spawned two other equally successful sequels Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) and Pirates of the Carribean:At World’s End (2007).
Awards and nominations
The years 2003 – 2008 saw Depp in other notable roles – still shying away from mainstream roles most noticeable in Finding Neverland (2004) which also landed him another Oscar nomination, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and the voice of Victor Van Dort in Corpse Bride (2005).
In 2007, he did Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It was the horror tale of the legendary barber except brilliant director Tim Burton had turned it into a musical. And yes - Depp can carry a note. He also deservedly won the Golden Globes award for Best performance by an actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy.
Its not surprising then that Depp will be appearing as The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland due out in 2010.
Depp earned Academy Award nominations for best performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in 2004 (for Pirates 1), 2005 (for Finding Neverland) and 2008 (for Sweeney Todd).
For all the Oscar snubs – presumable because these films are also non-dramatic – he was awarded the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in 2004 (for Pirates 1 ) and in 2005 (for Finding Neverland)by the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
The People’s Choice Awards was clearer – he won the Favourite Male Movie Star for four consecutive years in 2005 through to 2008.
Winning the People's Choice Award for Finding Neverland
Depp has no doubt transcended from the ‘iconic loners’ to fan favourites. He proves he can bring in box-office success yet continue to bring a rare quality in the roles he plays. His characters are always memorable and he is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
Now, if only the golden statue comes along.
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