Johnny Depp Reveals “Fame Is the Last Thing” He Ever Wanted

Johnny Depp, one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors over the past four decades, has opened up about his complicated relationship with fame—and how it was never part of his original plan.

In a revealing interview with The Sunday Times, the 62-year-old star, known for unforgettable roles in Edward Scissorhands and Pirates of the Caribbean, stated plainly, “Well, fame is the last thing I ever chased.”

Reflecting on his long career, Depp dismissed the idea that he ever sought to please the public or the press. “If you look at the 9,000 years that I’ve been doing this s**t, it’s pretty clear that I wasn’t ever thinking how I could be more famous, make a hit or please the press,” he said. “Fame is an occupational hazard — but if I spout off about how upset I am, people will say, ‘Sweetheart, take a job pulling trash bags.’”

Depp also spoke candidly about his family life, sharing how his parents’ divorce during his teenage years led to ongoing family tensions. Growing up with three siblings, he described how family dynamics shifted as his brothers and sisters married and moved on. “My brother had his problems with the parents,” Depp recalled, “There were many episodes of conflict — he and my father would duke it out — and Debbie had her problems with them too.”

As his siblings started their own families, Depp found himself often navigating the changing roles. “Then Danny got married. Soon Debbie got married too, so it was only me and Christi. Then Christi got married, so it was only me. And dynamics changed. It was almost as if I was used to conflict. It was not abnormal. I did my best to just step in and out,” he reflected.

Depp’s candid remarks paint a portrait of an actor who, despite decades in the spotlight, has never been driven by the trappings of fame but rather by a deeper, more personal journey—both on screen and off.