Johnny Depp is a multi-talented actor, who can bring alive any character he is playing to a T! Did you know his real name is John Christopher “Johnny” Depp II? Today, on his 49th birthday, let’s have a look at his top 10 Guises:
1. Edward (Edward Scissorhands)
This film is the story of an artificial man named Edward who has scissors for hands! Fun Fact – Johnny Depp watched many Charlie Chaplin films to study this soft-spoken character.
2. Benjamin Barker (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)
The movie is based on a musical from 1979 about a fictitious person named Sweeney Todd. Fun Fact – Johnny Depp took music lessons in preparation for his role. New York Times described his singing as “harsh and thin, but amazingly forceful”.
3. Rango/Lars (Rango)
This was such a cute movie! It won Johnny Depp the Kids Choice Award for Favourite Voice from an Animated Movie. Even till date Johnny Depp lives up to his “Chameleon” image!
4. Willy Wonka (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
I felt like I was living a dream while I watched this movie. As a kid I used to read a lot of Roald Dahl’s books and this one was my favourite – I loved to imagine myself on a chocolate river ride, plucking candy off the trees and a three-course dinner chewing gum. Yummie!
5. Victor Van Dort (Corpse Bride)
He bagged another Tim Burton animated fantasy musical film, set in a fictional Victorian-era village in Europe.
6. Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland)
Who doesn’t love Disney movies?! Johnny Depp brilliantly played The Mad Hatter whose personality is made up of different people and their extreme sides. MissMalini even hosted an Alice in Wonderland theme party last year!
7. Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean series)
The character of Jack Sparrow was first introduced in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003. He then appeared in the sequels – Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007) and On Stranger Tides (2011).
8. George Jung (Blow)
In Blow, Johnny Depp plays the character of George Jung, king of the illegal cocaine empire in the U.S. This film is based on a true story, so Johnny’s look in the movie was inspired by the real George Jung (also known as Boston George).
9. Barnabas Collins (Dark Shadows)
This movie is a comic take on the gothic TV soap from 1966. This is one of my favourite characters, not only because he plays the role of a Vampire, but also for the fact that combines humour, action, love, violence, and bizarre language all in one. And to top it all, Tim Burton as the director and Johnny Depp in the leading role, Dark Shadows was a dream come true!
10. Tonto (The Lone Ranger)
He is presently filming a remake of the movie, The Lone Ranger in which he plays Tonto, a fictional character belonging to the Comanche Nation. This movie is set to release by May 2013 and I am sure Johnny will do complete justice to this character as well!
A very Happy Birthday from Team MissMalini! Hope to see you in many more exciting avatars Johnny!