Johnny Depp in an exclusive interview with Vero Lozano

Everything is absolutely ready. I have the absolute honor of welcoming Mr. Johnny D. here to Argentina, to the Telefar studios by Lozano. Welcome Johnny [music] baby. Honor. It's an honor for me to have you here [laughs] just as you requested. Snowflake. Hello everyone. It's a pleasure. It's my pleasure. It's truly a pleasure for me. There are so many people waiting for you, people who came from all over , who traveled a long way to show you the love they feel for you. [laughs] I apologize, but it's an honor to have you here to present your film Modi as a director, so let's talk about everything. Okay. To be able to do it in Buenos Aires, in a city where culture is very important and the arts are very quiet. The perfect movie [laughs] for that. Okay, let's go. Yaere plays Mr. Johnny. Thank you. Well, Johnny, for me this came out overnight, I do n't know where it came from. It's a pleasure to have you here. I'll say it again , we are all very mobilized. You'll see what the whole channel is like. It's a great honor for us to have you here today. I am truly honored. Is there a point where you get used to all the love you receive, or does it still affect you in some way? Yes, yes. Welcome. Yes, welcome. I do n't know if anyone can ever get used to that. I think one feels blessed to have the support of the people, to see that demonstration of respect, love, and acceptance. People have kept me alive. It's the people, it's the public. Because you've created a lot of characters, you've inspired a lot of people all over the world, beyond languages, places, religions, uh, genders, and now as a director, how was it to put yourself in that directing role again for the second time ? The best thing about being a director is not being in the movie. [laughs] There, there you do like a catharsis of what they did to you as a director, maybe, I mean, as an actor, I mean , a revenge, like a revenge. [laughs] Yes, it's like a rematch, really. The bad thing I know is that I've worked with so many directors or filmmakers and it's like being a parent, that is, you learn what not to do. One learns not to approach an actor with one thing or another. Modi, which is such a fantastic story, Modi three days in Montpernet talks about the story of a painter. Why did you choose that specifically? That's telling that story. Here's something else, one of those moments in life that you just can't understand . One day my phone rang and it was Pachino. Give him my phone number. [laughs] Yes, he's going to go crazy. Sure. He's going to go even crazier . Then he calls you and it's him. Pacino called me and said, "Did you remember that thing about Modigliani, that I wanted to make that movie?" Yes, I remember Tony Brasco talking to me, he said, "Yes, that one, that one, that one, yes, I remember." And he said, "I think you have to direct him out of thin air." I had n't spoken to him for a couple of years . "I think you have to direct him. It's Al Pacino. Right. Al Pacino. You can't say no to him, man. No, no, you can't say no, and you have to direct him too, and because he acts in The Aunt and the Godfather. What? So I decided, well, I think you're right, I'd love to do it. What are you like? But I had no idea I was going to do it at all. What are you like as a director, being an actor? Are you strict? Are you relaxed, are you a pain in the neck? No, very relaxed because I think the best thing to do if you have the opportunity to capture something, to create something emotional, or rather, to allow the actors to do what they do, what they know how to do, to give us what they can give us, and see and see how that fits within of the entire story. They're all very good actors. The truth is, the cast is fantastic. Yes, amazing. It's an amazing cast. I chose them all by looking at photos. Yes, I looked at the photos, I'd see their faces or their eyes and say, "Well, this one, that's Modi Guilan," or when I saw Ricardo I said, " That's him, that 's Modi Guilan, that's Modi." And you paint too, in fact you're going to Tokyo to do an art exhibition as well. Um, I mean, it seems to me there are many similarities in both their stories, do n't you think? Yours and Modi's. There are things that I'm sure there are some things that I can personally or emotionally connect with as a Diglian. I don't think I consider myself an artist in any way. a painter at most. I can paint on the fabric, I can put paint on the fabric and see what happens. Well, but he does too, and everything is clear. Well, you roll the dice and see what happens and what comes of everything you do, because you sing, you play an instrument, you've had your band, you paint, you act. What is it that you like the most or find most fun to have, among all those facets? It's something that ca n't be ranked, so to speak. There's no way to put it inside a circle. One can feel the words coming to one's head, coming to mind, and then one writes. Then, after one has written down everything one thought on paper, perhaps one begins to draw. Clear. And perhaps that drawing inspires us to do something bigger, something larger on a canvas. And when all this started, when it began, you started very young, you started more connected to music, uh, with a rather particular story in your childhood, like music rescuing you from some dark situations or situations that didn't make you very happy. So, how did that journey begin, leading to where you are today as an artist? Music, even when I was a small child, music was always a very good, wonderful escape or distraction from reality. You have those moments when you hear songs from when you were a kid and they immediately take you back to that time. So, I was always very immersed in music and then I appreciated acting as well , like a suggestion from a friend who tells you and you never stopped. It was a real accident. A good accident. Yes, [music] yes, yes, I think so. Yes, we were looking at different characters that you have portrayed throughout your career, moments. Is there a moment when you say, "This is the best crazy guy I've ever been with, or would you like to come back?" What did you remember? [laughs] Yes, [laughs] sometimes or at some moments when I would be sitting perhaps in a place, I was realizing what my life, my existence was like and there I thought, and why am I doing this? Why am I still doing this? But I still don't have any kind of ambition whatsoever. I have no ambition to be anything. I have no ambition for the outcome of anything. I still have the same anxiety, the same hunger. The impulse, the need to create, and the same need to put these characters or create them. Well, you actually create your own characters, right? You're a great creator of your own characters; you put a lot of yourself into them . Everyone, everyone, each one has to go through something to choose a character, something has to happen to you to say yes to Scissorhands, to Willy Wonka, to the pirate, to Jack Sparrow, what has to happen to you for you to be like that? I'm heading in that direction . Something has to hit me, let's say, when I read the script. Something has to tell me there's something that focuses on that. There is something that calls to him. You get hooked on that and then you start to think, what's my interest in that character? How could I approach that character? You start to feel that you can do it, or perhaps you can do it differently; you can have a different vision of what is written, of what is expected of you, and you start to think that you can add something positive to that character. So it's like the ingredients. You start cooking like a recipe, you start putting in the ingredients. I add a little bit of this, a little bit of that. Specifically, we're currently watching Jack Sparrow, who opened a lot of doors. He's like a self-inspired character. It had something to do with Kate Richards. It's true. Keith Richards is someone I've known for a long time, a member of the Rolling Stones, right? There. Well, we 're also seeing a note with him. He is an idol. He's an icon. I spent time with Kid and started to get to know him, and then I started to copy the way he spoke. I like it because when you talk about someone you do, uh, please make me Kate Richard, Kate Richard, a little bit. It's like, that's how he talks to you, right? It's like he's smoking you, there's the cloud of the cigarette. [laughs] Talk like that. I, at least, thought he was the greatest rockstar, the pirate; I think he was the human being who could do whatever he wanted and everything would turn out well for him. He smoked his father's ashes. Did you see that? I don't know anything about that. I don't know anything [laughs] . That's what he said, that's what we read, you see? I don't know if it's true or [laughs] I do n't know. I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. I do n't know anything [laughs] about talking like that. So, that's why Jack Spar came with that way of speaking and moving, and for this role it 's a little difficult. Okay. And it was your first nomination, I understand, wasn't it? To Oscar. To Oscar. And you won, and you won the Screen Actors Guild Award too. by the pirate. The actor's, but I couldn't go because there was a strike; he was on strike. Then someone filmed me, put me on TV and I won , but I was sitting on my couch. I was sitting on my sofa. It was the best awards ceremony I've ever seen. It's a prize that has a lot of value, I think, because you're chosen by your peers, right? The same people, your colleagues, the industry. Yes of course. It's always great for someone, or for an actor, to have two seconds to say "it's worth it" or " good job." Very good. That's it, that's all. With the prizes, do you like it? Do you have them at home, in a special place? Does it make no difference to you? Look, the thing is the idea of competition with other people who are also actors. None of my work comes from the competition. Nothing I do is to compete because I don't see much of it myself. I don't want to know what other people are doing. I want to know what I have to do. So the idea of competition, not moving, is ridiculous. And if we're going to nominate actors, why don't we nominate the camera operators? Yes. What's more important? Is it an actor, a producer, or whoever is filming? I understand what you 're saying, right? In that case, it's generally a team effort . Yes, it's a whole because a film is something collaborative, totally collective. And what 's also really beautiful is that Jack's character transcends the screen, and you go to hospitals and visit kids who are in very fragile situations, with very fragile health, and that's a beautiful gift. For me, it's the real gift. I want to see these children and understand. I have experienced some things in my life with some of my children, with my little daughter. And I know how it feels. There's a possibility that I can go and be there, dress up as Captain Spar, go to the children's hospital and be there for a few hours, try to get them out of their heads a little or distract them, get them out of where they are, tell them ridiculous, absurd things. It's about doing silly, stupid things, but it 's a very beautiful gesture and that helps. The parents are also watching the children. I love seeing those children. The real gift is being able to do this. And you said, you spoke of your children there as you passed by. Fatherhood has changed you, being a dad has changed you. How did it change you? I suppose there are many stages of caring about things, about people, when you're at the point where nothing matters to you and you have a [laughs] child there, right at that moment and then other things start to matter to you. One never sleeps the same way again, nor thinks the same way, nor is better inspired, nor more in love, nor ever again experiences that purity that fills us with purpose and reason. Lily Rose is so lovely, and Jack L is an excellent actress. Do you see the things he does? because she's very naked sometimes. It seems so. They say it a couple of times. [laughs] You did n't see it. No, it's not there. Don't watch it. No, no, no, [laughs] no. There are images there that one doesn't need to have in their head, and I already have many. I'm very happy, of course. One is very happy for his children and because they do a great job and I ask him, "Do I have to see this one?" No, no, no, no, no, no, Dad. Alright . And I went to see Nosferatu. I loved it at the cinema. I went. Yes. And my friends were there to tell me when to cover my eyes and head, and then they said, "Okay, now you can follow me." And Jack is brilliant and was very good. It was brilliant. My son Jack Lil is 26 and Jack is 23. There is a great friend of his who ironically is the son of Ted Demy, who was the one who directed Blow, the movie Blow. Dexter Demy is a friend. He writes and directs some short films. So, Jack was writing and directing with him. Jack is against the idea of being in the family and wants nothing to do with the surname. Okay, that happens. It's true that everything is very nice, but there's one photo that's compromising. I have to ask you because there's something we didn't know, something I do n't know if it's real, and I want to check it with you. I want you to explain this to me, please. I'm having fun, do you like the colors? That's my office, huh? [laughs] Okay. No, I never saw it. This one wasn't even there. Yes, I would love to. Would you like that? No, no, because that came up and I said, "No, this is fake news, it's not real." But you say yes, it's real. I would love to have a copy because it's like a photo [laughs] but funny. What other things don't we know about you that you'd like to tell us? Apart from Barbie. Well, because there's a lot of talk about it. I like opera, good things. There is n't much, there isn't much to know. You really like music, huh? You always travel with guitars, speakers, and, well, paintings. old ones with paintings. Whatever your goal, you have to follow your passion. I'm sure the same thing happens to you and many other people. Having an idea and then writing it down or doing something about it is like a constant process. The opportunity to discover something and/or create something. I need to have my guitars with me at all times, to be able to paint or to be able to write. Inspire. And I was thinking earlier, you were talking about Al Pacino in relation to Marlon Brando, who has also been a very important figure in your life, hasn't he? With much love, much mutual respect. Yes. Oh, they worked together on Don Juan DeMarco. Yes. And did you admire him before? Love was born there for him. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. No, I had great admiration for him. by Marlon Brandon. The first time we met was over the phone. I was in New York, he was in Los Angeles. We talked for three and a half hours on the phone and it was amazing, it was wonderful. I remember hanging up the phone and thinking, is this real? Is that right? Did this happen? Then the following week the angels were back and then he invited me to dinner. We had lunch, dinner, and talked for about 7 hours. Like that divine connection or that divine understanding of souls. And well, we were friends, we became friends. We worked together three times and he was the king of jokes. About the jokes. Yes. You told me one that I don't know if you want to tell. The one with the fart machine. [laughs] I was going to Ireland because I was going to make a film in Ireland, but I didn't have any information about the character and then I have to read the script and he tells me nothing, he didn't tell you how he told you, I like it when you do it. I have to read, maybe I have to read the script because I'm going to make a film. You don't have to read the script. Then I went to Ireland and he said to me, "Come, come, come home." When I got off the plane , this round, tall thing is called a handy gas in English and you can make fart sounds, but the worst ones we want to find in a second. The smallest fart, the biggest fart. Yes. Then I said, "Okay, okay, I'm going to use it." We hugged, we sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Oh, Johnny, it's so good to have you here. And I said, well, I have something in my stomach, from the airplane food. He says to me, "Oh, are you okay?" Yes, yes, yes, yes, I'm fine. Two minutes later [laughs] the noise. Then he looked at me. Ah, very good. John. [laughs] So I pressed the button again and again he said, "But that doesn't seem right, Johnny, it's not right. Either something's wrong, something's happening to you." So I had him for 30 minutes, I was with this until he said, "Well, I'm going to call the doctor, uh, [laughs] because something's wrong with you, something's not right, something's wrong." And before he called the doctor, I took it out and showed it to him. He realized what I'd been doing. He started laughing and looked at it and held it up to me, saying, "I've found God." [laughs] He's a sweetheart. I love that anecdote. And it also speaks to the love they had for each other and the trust they had in one another. Um, tomorrow, today is the Van Premiere of Modi, and tomorrow you'll be giving a masterclass in La Plata, at the Podestá Theater, and you'll also be receiving a special mention, uh, and you'll be there with Ricardo Caramaquio. How are you preparing for that? Are you excited? Are you looking forward to it? I'm looking forward to everything. I'm excited to be back in Buenos Aires, to be back in Buenos Aires, to be able to experience this place again, and to be able to bring the film here as well. It's It's a place, a community where there's culture, art, and architecture. I'm very happy. So many people came, bringing beautiful things for you, gifts they want to give you, letters, people who came dressed as pirates, sorry, tattoos, people who are tattooed from head to toe. Anyway, absolutely everyone is signing the Argentine flag, everyone's signing it , everyone's going to sign it. And we chose one story from everyone to share with you as a representative of all those people who want to give you love. We'll share it. My name is Celeste, this is Nora, and I've been a big fan of Johnny since I was 6 years old. In 2012, my mom, as you can see, she's a visual artist, was invited to a convention in Brazil, and the theme was actors and actresses. And what did she decide to do? Jack. We always said, well, when we became famous, we were going to give it to her, and we never really thought that, I mean, we said it in a It was a joke, and we never really thought that day, I mean, that this piece would be so close. What it mainly means is the bond, the connection we have, and obviously the enormous affection we have for him. We sent some. Here it is to show. It's divine. It's very well done. Those are Celeste and Nora. There are a lot. Nora is the artist. [applause] Well, and there's a letter she wrote to you, which I'll give you later, it's in English, where her daughter recounts that she went through moments of great sadness, great darkness, and that you rescued her. So, another one, Johny, for you. [laughs] I do n't know how I did it, I don't know how I could have done that, but what it inspired, it 's very moving. There are a lot of people who really care about it, people who have a lot of love for it. I'm like an open book. So maybe they feel some kind of connection with some of my experiences. That's the case. I'm very happy. I'm truly amazed by everything. I'm happy it all happened. That's how it is. We put together a report, a compilation, whatever you want to call it, with all your characters and all the artistic ability you have . With you, Johnny Depp. Do you know [music] the origin of the name? [music] [laughs] into the [music] great open this is for the in my heart forever been a musician [music] [music] I think I was about 12. How did you learn to play? I stole a cord book. I was so [music] into my little into playing that I didn't notice [music] You know, I met a guy named Nicholas Cage who's a brilliant actor in Los Angeles. He thought I should try acting and uh you know, at the time I was selling pens over the telephone. I didn't really care what I did at that point. [music] Andras, kill me if you must. You've made me the happiest juvenile delinquent in Baltimore. The one and only and one of my personal Favorites, Johnny Dep. Johnny DNAP [applause] I think it's the first time you actually called me on this one. Hello Jack. How do you do? [music] Good morning, Starine. Thank you. Thank you very much. [ music] It's weird to see each other, it's strange to see so many faces of one, so many different faces [music] from 20 to 99. I'm 99 now. Oh, don't lie. The love that lasted the longest for you was Vanessa. Oh, oh, oh. [laughs] The mother of your children, right? Vanessa, of course, it's a long-lasting relationship because she's the mother of my children and we experienced those things together, in a wonderful and hidden way between us. Nice, yes, like they created their own world between the two of them. I wanted to find a place for my children so they could grow up, and where you can bring your children too and continue with that, and we found the perfect place. For 10 years I lived there. Very good, John. Very good, Johnny. And 10. Very Good. Whether [laughs] or bad. Whether it's bad. Yeah . Yes. Well, uh, and it makes you want to fall in love again. It's something you don't care about, that you're not in a position to get involved with someone or the great love of your life. [music] It's very clear who the great or real loves of life are. Ultimately, maybe you need someone or maybe you don't. It's okay, it's okay. There are good moments that can be isolated, where being isolated, being away from people, away from people. And there are other moments when you have to be able to express everything you 've been considering. Totally. Uh, you were making a movie that hasn't premiered yet with Penélope Cruz in Spain, Dave Drunker, right? Day Drunker. Uh, you've worked with her several times. You're very good friends with Penélope, with her husband too. First, Penélope is like, I don't know, she's like that fairy godmother, that little one who's always there, who I have on my shoulder Since we met a long time ago through Pedro Almodó, like my little angel, and Javier, with whom I made a film, and I think I've known him longer than Penélope, and we became close friends, they're like family to me. And that film, when does it premiere? Do we know? Is there a release date for that film? Ah, you don't know. No, I don't know, I don't know, I really don't know. You don't know, you're going to Tokyo and then you're going to make another film. You're going to film another film. No, no, you're going to Tokyo for the art exhibition and then you have to film another film. Ah, no. I'm going to do the premiere in Tokyo too, we're doing the art exhibition, more or less. Gust, is there anything in particular you'd like to do here in Argentina? See some place, meet someone. Yes. Yes. Mystery. Where? Where? I do n't know where. I do n't know. Well, we can put together an itinerary. I need advice. Someone to tell me where to go. I'd love that. You like Argentinian food. I love empanadas. Empanadas. Empanadas. I'm especially an empanada smuggler. [laughs] I'm known for bringing empanadas. You always travel with a lot of things. A lot of things. Rings, scarves, because your look is like a trademark. You have like a suitcase full of... Let's see, we can see the ones on your hand. How nice. Is there a favorite one, one you never take off? Like a lucky charm, right? Ah, that's your lucky charm. That one. That one, sorry, that one, yes. [laughs] Very nice, very nice. I wear the antique because I'm getting old. Ah, they're [laughs] an old Roman one. Jeff's old one, a great friend too, a very good friend of his wife, they gave it to me. Sandra. And tattoos, how many do you have, Johnny? Very important in your life. That one never expects. Jeff and I became very good friends. We recorded an album, we recorded something. Chef, but you're an actor. I said, "Chef, I'm an actor, I'm not a singer, [laughs] Of course, it's not going to go well." Well, we recorded an album together and I really miss him, I really miss him. He was very, very, very close, without a doubt. Johnny, it's been a pleasure talking with you. I'm truly grateful. Thanks to Jorge too, who made this interview possible; the honor is all mine. We're here presenting Modi, Johnny's film as director, with spectacular performances. Today is the Van Premiere, tomorrow there's a masterclass in La Plata, at the Podestá Theater, and you're staying a few more days. So, Johnny, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. And in a little while, I heard you're going to greet the fans, you're going to go out and greet the people who are outside. I'm looking forward to seeing you. Yes, I'm going to tell my friends, my relatives, those who are over there dressed like me, my family who are away. Thank you very, very much. There's something I should have asked you, but I didn't. Oh, give me a moment because I got nervous. [laughs] It's water, right? And it's not water. Yes, yes. There's something, Johnny, that I shouldn't have asked you . I didn't ask you. Let's see, let's think. He was here with us. Now pause and let's see how he greets his fan. I love you, baby. Thank you very much.