A Unique Individual: Johnny Depp (Part II)

Johnny first appeared in the hugely successful horro movie A Nightmare On Elm Street in 1984 playing Glen Lantz (Johnstone 2006). He then starred in several unsucessful films including Private Resort in 1985 (ibid). In order to get more serious about his acting, Johnny enrolled in acting classes at The Loft Studio (ibid).

In 1986, Johnny played Private Lerner in Oliver Stone's Platoon (Bingham 2005), a movie about the Vietnam War in all its gore, fear, confusion and "chaotic battles without an overlay of esthetics or ballet" (Attanasio 1987).

In 1987 Johnny starred in a television series 21 Jump Street as Officer Tom Hanson, an undercover detective in an America high school (Bingham 2005). Johnny initially turned down the role twice, but due to financial hardship he relented (ibid). The series were a great success and attracted millions of loyal young viewers (Johnstone 2006). Despite the fame, money and stability, Johnny was frustrated and unhappy about being idolised for his looks and being a teen pin-up (ibid; Bingham 2005).

In 1989 Johnny was offered the role of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker in Cry-Baby directed by John Waters (Bingham 2005). Johnny hoping to break away from being a teen idol accepted the lead role (ibid). The movie is set in Baltimore 1954, the nascent days of sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll and tells the story of high school misfits, a juvenile delinquent Wade Walker from the wrong side of the tracks and a forbidden romance (Johnstone 2006).

In 1990 Johnny landed in another lead role of Edward in Edward Scissorhands, an antithesis of ‘Tom Hanson’ (ibid). He enjoyed playing Edward and was very much intrigued by the idea of a character who “wants to touch but can’t” (Bingham 2005, 23). Edward is a loveable misfit (Johnstone 2006) and despite the character’s frightful hairdo, multiple scars and sharp scissor hands, Edward is naive, gentle, kind and creative. 

Edward Scissorhands is the first of many great movies that Johnny has collaborated with the ingenious director Tim Burton (ibid). “[Johnny] Depp has become something of an alter ego for Burton” (ibid, 39). Their many collaborations include Ed Wood (1994) playing the director of B-movies Edward D. Wood Jr; Sleepy Hollow (1999) as constable Ichabod Crane; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) as the imaginative and eccentric Willy Wonka; Corpse Bride (2005) voice for Victor Van Dort; Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) playing the sinister serial killer Benjamin Barker a.k.a. Sweeney Todd; Alice in Wonderland (2010) as the Mad Hatter; and Dark Shadows (2012) as the 200 year old vampire Barnabas Collins (ibid; Best Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movies 2010).

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