Everybody knows Johnny Depp as one of the most iconic actors in Hollywood, having starred in some of the most memorable characters throughout cinematic history. His career that has spanned almost three decades, Depp has became a Hollywood maverick, venturing into parts and materials other stars don’t dare attempt and generally pushing boundaries with his roles. He’s acted in tough crime dramas and never shied away from intense and sometimes dark roles, something that has really defined his Hollywood career.
As a result Depp has earned some of the industry’s highest accolades, including three Golden Globe awards, three Screen Actors Guild awards, and nominations for several Academy Awards. Here’s an overview of some of the reasons why Johnny Depp has become an icon over these last few decades.
The Early Years
Born in Owensboro, Kentucky, Johnny Depp found his inspiration to become an actor early on. He was the youngest of four siblings, and both his mother and father were hardworking blue-collar workers. His parents encouraged his creative pursuits, and by his teens he was already making a living as a musician playing in local bands. During this time he also began to develop his acting craft, and before long he had nabbed a role in the TV series 21 Jump Street. This became the launching pad for his career, where he cemented his place as an actor that was unafraid of taking risks.
Creating Iconic Characters
From there on, Johnny Depp went raw with his roles and played parts that really showcased his range as an actor. Whether it was the subversively silliness of Edward Scissorhands, or the crazed paranoia of his character in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Depp injected his characters with a wild and unpredictable flair that always kept audiences on the edge of their seats.
Of course, no review of Johnny Depp’s iconic roles would be complete without mentioning the part that defined his career: the endlessly debonair and witty pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. His spirited performance in the first movie made him a star almost overnight, and it earned him his first Oscar nomination.
A Thrill For Fans
Off screen, Johnny Depp has maintained an air of mystery that keeps fans of his work enamored with everything he does. He’s been in a relationship with several Hollywood A-listers, and his continuing friendship with superstar actor and director Tim Burton is a testament to his loyalty and attachment to the film movement he helped lead with protagonists like Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow.
In addition, Depp continues to take all kinds of exciting roles, from comedy to crime drama and even experimental projects like Art official Intelligence. This is what ultimately makes him such an awe-inspiring star; his ability to take risks and defy expectation to make unprecedented and unique characters.
Notable Roles in Recent Years
In recent years, Johnny Depp has been in a number of critically acclaimed and successful blockbusters, most notably the Fantastic Beasts movie franchise, and he continues to maintain his golden touch on the industry. Fans can also look forward to some of his upcoming roles, such as Minamata, an adaptation of a true story about a photojournalist fighting corporate greed to expose a powerful company; Waiting for the Barbarians, about a lonely magistrate dealing with colonialism’s human costs; and Cry Witch, a horror story about a coastal town that is terrorized by witch accusations.
Johnny Depp has done it all in his 30-year Hollywood career. He’s created some of the most iconic characters in film and remained true to his roots as an artist, taking risks and pushing boundaries even as he ages. In many ways he’s become an iconic figure in the history of film, and continues to be an inspiration to fans and future generations of stars alike. And with a slew of upcoming parts to look forward to, the future looks bright for Hollywood maverick Johnny Depp.
