‘He’s an Incredible Artist’: Lily-Rose Depp Opens Up About Growing Up With Johnny Depp’s Genius

Lily-Rose Depp may have followed her famous father, Johnny Depp, into the world of acting, but she is clear about her determination to carve her own path. Raised in a household steeped in creativity—her mother, Vanessa Paradis, is a celebrated singer and actress—Lily-Rose has always acknowledged the artistic influence of her parents. And while she has not explicitly labeled Johnny Depp’s abilities as “natural talent,” her comments reveal a deep respect for his craft.

In a Vanity Fair interview, Lily-Rose described her parents as “incredible artists” and noted the unique challenges of building her career under the shadow of their legacies. “Respecting them both so much and what they do, and trying to find my own identity in this world, has been interesting,” she said. These words hint at the high regard she holds for Johnny Depp’s acting skills, even if she refrains from categorizing them as innate or natural. Her admiration is evident, rooted in years of watching him create iconic characters such as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean and the misunderstood Edward in Edward Scissorhands.

When asked about her childhood experiences with her father’s films, Lily-Rose offered an anecdote that speaks to the impact of his performances. She recalled being moved to tears as a young child while watching Edward Scissorhands. “Not because I thought he was scary, but because everyone was being so mean to him, and I got really upset,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. Her reaction underscores the emotional depth Johnny Depp brought to his characters—an artistic quality that shaped her own understanding of acting.

However, Lily-Rose is also fiercely protective of her private life, especially as public interest in her father’s legal battles with Amber Heard has grown. She has maintained a clear boundary between her personal thoughts and public discussions, telling Elle magazine, “I feel really entitled to my secret garden of thoughts.” This discretion might explain why she stops short of explicitly describing Johnny Depp’s talent as “natural.” Instead, she focuses on navigating her career while respecting the influence of her father’s artistic legacy.

As Lily-Rose continues to build her resume—recently starring in HBO’s The Idol and the upcoming remake of Nosferatu—her journey underscores the delicate balance of honoring her father’s artistic achievements while establishing her own identity. Though she may not call his talent “natural” outright, it’s clear from her words and experiences that she views Johnny Depp’s work with the kind of admiration that only a daughter raised in an extraordinary creative environment could possess.