Johnny Depp says he's not 'remotely close to normal' and fame can do 'funny things to a man'

Controversial film star Johnny Depp has opened up about the pitfalls of fame.

The Edward Scissor Hands actor, 60, was once the toast of Hollywood, but the fallout from his marriage to former wife Amber Heard cost him greatly.

In 2020 he lost a UK libel case against The Sun newspaper, which branded him a “wife beater”. In 2022 a US jury found, however, that Heard had libeled her ex-husband in an article on domestic abuse.

While big film studios in the US appear to have turned their backs on him, including dropping him from the Fantastic Beasts franchise, he describes himself even now as “very lucky”.

Insisting that he “can’t complain about anything”, Depp does admit that being in the spotlight can do “funny things to a man”.

“The thing hits you and then you can’t go anywhere without people looking at you,” he mused to Metro. “And that’s a very interesting way to grow up. But after 38 years of something like that…’

“The first thing that’s really mad is to expect anyone who’s lived in that kind of situation to be anything remotely close to normal.

“Now, to make matters worse, I wasn’t normal before that. So I’ve had to adapt my world into the way that I have to live. How do I live? I live behind windows. I live behind car windows, train windows, plane windows, hotel room windows… f***ing windows!” he added.

Depp made his remarks while promoting new film Jeanne Du Barry in which he portrays the historical French ruler King Louis XV.

The French-language flick, which is showing in UK cinemas from Friday, opened last year’s Cannes Film Festival and had box office success across mainland Europe.

The film’s official synopsis reads: “Jeanne du Barry follows Jeanne Vaubernier (Maïwenn), a woman born into poverty who uses her intellect and charms to climb the social ladder, rising to the opulent court of King Louis XV of France (Johnny Depp).

“On her official introduction to the King, their attraction is irresistible and Jeanne becomes his favourite courtesan, reigniting his appetite for life.

“The two fall madly in love and against all convention, Jeanne moves into the Palace of Versailles as scandal and revolution ensue. Starring Johnny Depp, with Maïwenn, who also directs and co-writes.”