Johnny Depp to Vanity Fair: Disney Couldn't Stand My 'Gay' Jack Sparrow

By Tracey Harrington McCoy Posted Nov 30th 2010 06:45PM

Johnny Depp graces the cover of the January issue of Vanity Fair--and in the accompanying interview the actor talks about avoiding the paparazzi with Angelina Jolie, the executives at Disney who didn't like his interpretation of Caption Sparrow in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies and how he almost became a musician instead of an actor. Rock legend Patti Smith, guest-writing for the magazine, conducted the interview.

"Meeting her and getting to know her was a real pleasant surprise," Depp reveals about Jolie, his co-star in 'The Tourist.' "You don't know what she might be like--if she has any sense of humor at all. I was so pleased to find that she is incredibly normal, and has a wonderfully kind of dark, perverse sense of humor."

More excerpts from the interview after the jump.

On avoiding the paparazzi while filming with Jolie:
"[Always] having to hide, sometimes not even being able to talk to each other in public because someone will take a photograph and it will be misconstrued and turned into some other sh--."

On Disney executives not liking his interpretation of Captain Sparrow:
"They couldn't stand him. They just couldn't stand him. I think it was Michael Eisner, the head of Disney at the time, who was quoted as saying, 'He's ruining the movie.'

"Upper-echelon Disney-ites, going, What's wrong with him? Is he, you know, like some kind of weird simpleton? Is he drunk? By the way, is he gay?... And so I actually told this woman who was the Disney-ite... 'But didn't you know that all my characters are gay?' Which really made her nervous."

On his many eccentric roles over his career:
"They're all still there, which on some level can't be the healthiest thing in the world.... I always picture it as this chest of drawers in your body--Ed Wood is in one, the Hatter is in another, Scissorhands is in another.... They're still very close to the surface."

On the music career he almost had:
"Going into acting was an odd deviation from a particular road that I was on in my late teens, early 20s, because I had no desire, no interest, really, in it at all. I was a musician and I was a guitarist, and that's what I wanted to do."

From Vanity Fair: Read More of His Interview | Depp in VF Past

Tags: Johnny

Comments

(25)

Tuesday 30 November

By mashens

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"They couldn't stand him. They just couldn't stand him. I think it was Michael Eisner, the head of Disney at the time, who was quoted as saying, 'He's ruining the movie.' .I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via age'lessmate.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends..

By Zero

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Whoa, whose the next legendary artist who's making these celebrities!

Wednesday 01 December

By nk8950

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Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow was the best and funniest character in all of the "Pirates" movies. Nobody else could've played that character like him. His drunkeness made the movies funny.

By Ray (of hope)

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And I thought I was imagining Depp plying a "swish-buckler".

By pugz

how could he play anything BUT a gay character? that would be like will smith saying," don't you know all my characters are black?" i mean, if the shoe fits, prance around in a frilly shirt in it!

By flamommy

I think he is the most handsome man on the planet.
Looks good even when he is grungy.

By Elizabeth

We must also consider the context of the period in which Jack Sparrow existed. Men were not as homophobic as they are now, and often wore high heeled shoes, jewels, etc. So, we really cannot judge the character by today's standards. In any case, Mr. Depp is a genius and I would trust his judgement over that of the Disney corporation.

By dossetti

Could you imagine Captain Jack Sparrow any other way than what Depp made him? I think not, Eisner and the rest of Disney need to leave the actors interpetation alone. He was great.

By karen

Mmmmmm...Johnny Depp.....nuf said

By Dorothy

We simply enjoy Johnny Depp. My husband and I have made it a point to see his movies and we loved the Pirates!!!!! He was a stunning Jack and could he run!

By Brad

Too gay for Disney? The whole place is one big gay city. If it weren't for the gay employees Disney would be a Costco. Do you honestly think straight people could be that creative?

By Sil

Yes...Mr. Depp. He really cannot do anything wrong. Even if he did take a role with Jolie. Seriously...she cannot touch him in talent...Jolie who????

By lj

Gay? I thought he was supposed to be acting DRUNK in that movie!!!

By mcr3020

Johnny...if by some slim miracle you read this....other's claim to be the "No. 1 fan"...and I used to as well.....but I just simply want to say...."You are my favorite everything.....I love you!
Christy

Wednesday 08 December

By Pamela

My Favorite everything as well!

By bobbyeve

Johnny Depp is brilliant. He is not afraid of letting his feminine side show, which ironically, makes
him more masculine.
People don't seem to realize, that inside every man, there is a woman, and inside every woman,
a man. Now don't ask anyone about this, since they will likely lie. Just look inside yourself....

By aussiecoffee007

you do realize you spelled "captain" wrong, right?

By sj

Just goes to show you the "experts" at Disney were dead wrong, the character Depp created for Jack Sparrow was pure genius.

By Harbo

Johnny Depp is the greatest screen qactor of his generation. He makes all his charchters interesting and he does it effortlessly. I'd see anything thing he's in.. I haven't sen "The Tourist," but i'd be wiling to wager that heacts Jolie off the screen.

By marie ellison

johnny i love you so much.i think that you are so attractive and so not gay.i want to be your friend and get to know you.you are one of my favorite actors.i liked your acts in cry baby,and and charie and the wonka factory.you are sexy and fine.love you.

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