When Johnny Depp started his acting career in 1984 with A Nightmare on Elm Street, it didn’t take long for him to claim a special place in the audience’s hearts as one of the biggest heartthrobs of all time. But while his fans fantasized about him, all the darling dreamboat could dream of as a youngster was quickly getting old for a strangely accurate reason.
As it turns out, not only did young Depp hold immense criticism for formula movies and rich A-listers who continued to do them and ruined Hollywood through that, but also looked forward to getting old just so he could get more ‘character parts’.
Young Johnny Depp Often Looked Forward To Getting Old
Although Johnny Depp as a youngster realized that his youthful charismatic looks were a blessing for him, he also looked forward to quickly aging at the same time. During an interview with Cosmopolitan in 1991, he shared his thoughts and reasoning behind the same. He said:
“When I age, I’ll be able to do more character parts, which is what I want to do now anyway. In Hollywood, it’s ‘All young actors have to look a certain way because they have to be the leading man.’ Ridiculous, and it’s why the movies I’ve been in were so welcome to me—all character parts. I tell you, I look forward to getting old.”
Not only this, but he also bashed A-listers from Hollywood who chose formula movies above others despite being rich enough already.
“I know that making a lot of money in this business didn’t make me happy, so it’s not my goal. Four years of a TV series convinced me that it was as far as I ever want to go toward selling out. It’s now my turn to make choices—and usually, things I like are not commercial, not money-makers. Formula films bore me—maybe everybody’s getting bored with them? I don’t see why rich actors go on doing them. Once you’ve got ten million, what do you need more for?”
Turns out the young Johnny Depp wasn’t only exceptionally different from others with his alluring looks but was also the owner of an entirely unique personality and thinking that didn’t go hand-in-hand with the other rich A-listers from the entertainment industry.
Johnny Depp Knew Early On What He Wanted To Do As An Actor
Even at the initial stage of his career as an actor, Johnny Depp knew what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go. Sharing his thoughts on Hollywood during the same interview by quoting his idol Marlon Brando, he said:
“[Marlon] Brando says, ‘Everybody acts, every day, every second,’ and that’s so true. Most of the movie business is such bull. TV ratings and Oscars are taken as seriously as if life depended on them. All I am is a guy who pretends he’s someone else and gets paid for it.”
Continuing, he let out what he wanted to do throughout the rest of his acting career.
“To be good at what I do. To keep my integrity. To be happy,” he said, checking off his wishlist. Adding in jest, “To be really rich! No, look, I’ve been so fortunate to work with Oliver Stone, John Waters, Tim Burton. What I want is to maintain that level—good scripts, directors, things I’ll be proud of. And that’s the truth.”
A handsome superstar who is also incredibly wise? No doubt Johnny Depp is still regarded as one of the biggest heartthrobs of all time.
