Lily-Rose Depp on Her ‘Difficult Childhood Memory’ of Watching ‘Edward Scissorhands’—Why She Refused to Rewatch It

Lily-Rose Depp’s reflection on her childhood reaction to Edward Scissorhands, the 1990 film in which her father Johnny Depp portrayed the titular character, offers a unique and emotional perspective on the film’s impact. In an interview published by Harper’s Bazaar U.K. on January 2, 2025, the actress shared how she was “traumatized” by the film as a young child—not because of the character’s frightening appearance, but due to the treatment of her father’s character, Edward.

The Context: A Child’s Emotional Response

Edward Scissorhands, directed by Tim Burton, follows Edward, an artificial humanoid with scissors for hands, who is initially welcomed into a suburban family but is ultimately rejected by the community. The film, which has become a cult classic, features themes of acceptance, rejection, and the pain of being misunderstood—elements that Lily-Rose found distressing when she watched the film at just 3 years old. This occurred around 2002, when she was introduced to the movie by her parents, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis.

Despite not being alive for the film’s initial release, Lily-Rose recalled vividly how she was emotionally affected by the narrative. In the Harper’s Bazaar interview, she explained, “I was traumatized by it. Not because I thought he was scary, but because everyone was being so mean to him and I got really upset.” She specifically remembered being “petrified” by the scene where the townspeople, who initially accept Edward, turn against him, ultimately chasing him back to his mansion in a heartbreaking conclusion.

Emotional Impact and Lasting Effects

The emotional intensity of the experience left a lasting impression on the young actress. As a 3-year-old, she was still developing her emotional understanding, and witnessing her father’s character being ostracized and cruelly treated seemed to resonate deeply with her. This moment in the film, where Edward faces rejection, mirrors common childhood fears of being misunderstood and excluded, which might have been particularly amplified by the fact that her father played the victimized character.

Lily-Rose’s memory of the trauma was so profound that she remembered it clearly, despite being so young. She remarked, “I remember being petrified by that, which is weird, because I don’t have many memories from when I was that young,” calling it a “difficult childhood memory.” This comment underscores the emotional weight of the experience, suggesting that it was one of her first encounters with such intense feelings of empathy and distress.

A Refusal to Rewatch the Film

Given the lasting impact of her initial viewing, Lily-Rose has refused to rewatch Edward Scissorhands since then. This refusal indicates that the emotional distress she felt as a child was not fleeting but rather a formative moment that influenced her connection to the film. The inability to revisit the movie speaks to the depth of her childhood trauma and how it shaped her relationship with the film’s themes.

Long-Term Effects on Her Perspective

Interestingly, Lily-Rose’s early trauma appears to have influenced how she perceives misunderstood characters in her later career. In a surprising parallel, she mentioned her role in the 2024 film Nosferatu, where she plays opposite Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok, a character who embodies the archetype of the misunderstood villain. She noted, “Edward’s the good guy and Nosferatu’s kind of the bad guy, but there’s a part of me that feels a little bit of empathy for Nosferatu.” This reflection suggests that her childhood experience with Edward Scissorhands shaped her ability to empathize with complex, misunderstood characters, despite the contrasting genres of fantasy and horror.

Conclusion

Lily-Rose Depp’s candid reflection on how Edward Scissorhands traumatized her as a child provides a fascinating glimpse into how deeply emotional responses to media can shape a person’s perspective, especially when it involves a parent. Her reaction to the film highlights the power of storytelling, particularly how a child’s developing emotional intelligence can be profoundly impacted by themes of rejection and empathy. As she continues her career, it’s clear that this early experience with Edward Scissorhands has had a lasting effect on her approach to character development and her understanding of misunderstood figures in storytelling.