FRANCE: Johnny Depp said he and Captain Sparrow share a "deep respect for irreverence" as he received a honorific medal from the city of Paris

Record ID: 817421

  • Title: FRANCE: Johnny Depp said he and Captain Sparrow share a "deep respect for irreverence" as he received a honorific medal from the city of Paris
  • Date: 13th July 2006
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 6, 2006) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHNNY DEPP, BEING ASKED WHAT ARE THE RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW SAYING: "Well, I say we both lean a little towards irreverence you know. A deep respect for irreverence." CLOSE UP DEPP'S CHEST WITH VARIOUS NECKLACE, ONE SHOWING A PORTRAIT OF REVOLUTIONARY ICON CHE GUEVARA; PENDANT WITH CHE GUEVARA
  • Embargoed: 28th July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVAEUP8O4O380QD34XMF20Z1FQYL
  • Story Text: Johnny Depp was in Paris on Thursday (July 6) to receive a honorific medal from the city of Paris.
    Like Chinese actress Maggie Cheung, U.S. film director Oliver Stone and Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki before him, Depp was given the 'Great Vermilion medal of the City of Paris' -- the highest distinction that the Paris Mayor can bestow.
    The ceremony coincided with the Parisian premiere of his latest flick, 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest', the second film in the franchise.
    "I am very honoured you know, I am very honoured... because... I mean it's a city that I, have... I have, I have nothing but sort of great, great memories of this place. It gave me my, my beautiful girl, it gave me my beautiful children and it's definitely... France is definitely second home, so to receive something like that from the maire (nb - in French, the maire is the mayor) is quite big, quite touching," depp commented.
    Early in his career, Depp was known for dating beautiful starlets and trashing hotel rooms. But in recent years, he has settled down with French singer, model and actress Vanessa Paradis. They are raising their two children -- Lily-Rose Melody, born in 1999, and Jack, born in 2002 -- between homes in France and Los Angeles. Paradis put her acting career on hold after meeting Depp.
    At 43, Depp is known for quirky roles in movies such as "Ed Wood" and "Edward Scissorhands." Perhaps his best-loved part is flamboyant Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.
    Asked if he shares any resemblances with character Sparrow, Depp said "...we both lean a little towards irreverence you know. A deep respect for irreverence."
    Audience love him here, and screaming fans had been waiting for him for hours ahead of the premiere on the Champs Elysees.
    Co-actor Orlando Bloom, who portraits Will Turner in the film, was full of praise.
    "I always looked up to him as a young actor you know, because he was always very brave and courageous with the films he did and the choices he made, and I really felt very privileged to work with him you know, such, so closely. He is a great guy, great actor..." Bloom described.
    The newest version, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," hits cinemas this month about just everywhere throughout the world.
    While the handsome actor had enjoyed a long career starting with the 1980s TV drama "21 Jump Street," only one of his films over the next decade was a blockbuster, 1999's "Sleepy Hollow".
    "Curse of the Black Pearl" changed that. It grossed 654 million U.S. dollars worldwide and earned Depp an Oscar nomination -- an honour that had eluded him until then, despite critical success in movies such as "What's Eating Gilbert Grape".
    Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards looks set to play Johnny Depp's father in the third "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, a fitting role for the man upon whom the American actor based the character Jack Sparrow.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register