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 There are a handful of actors in Hollywood who, despite having starred in several successful
feature films, are not necessarily classified as "movie stars." Sure, fans allow the names to easily roll off of their tongues... and of course, we all acknowledge the fact that these "stars" can easily carry a film on their "name recognition", but when someone asks who the most successful actors/actresses are in the entertainment business, the "star" names are usually not mentioned in the same sentence. Johnny Depp is one of those actors. Depp, who made his feature film debut in 1984's 'A Nightmare on Elm Street,' has appeared in over 30 projects throughout the past two decades. Despite his more memorable performances in blockbusters such as 'Edward Scissorhands' and 'Sleepy Hollow', Depp maintains his "critically acclaimed" status for his roles in cult favorites like 'Ed Wood' and 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.' Even with his latest project, the mainstream Fox thriller, 'From Hell,' Depp acknowledges that he's better known for some of his lesser-known roles. In 'From Hell,' Depp plays inspector Fred Abberline, a man whose addiction to opium enables him to see the future. Among his visions are the future victims of the serial killer known only as Jack the Ripper.
When I met up with Depp at the Ritz Carlton in Marina del Rey, he was not only dressed for the occasion (he wore a three piece, pin striped suit) but he was also ready to talk rather openly about 'From
Hell'— despite the fact that our nation had gone to war only a few hours beforehand. As we discussed the film and his rather extensive career, Depp understood why he isn't compared and contrasted with actors like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. While this could actually annoy some
actors— actors who strive to be the next $30 million star, Depp admits that his own career decisions play a key part in why he is not "seen" by Hollywood as a huge
star— and in all honesty— after speaking with this charismatic actor for a while, I quickly discovered that he could care less.
UPBEAT You look nice. What's the occasion?
Johnny Depp "Thanks. I just figured that if there was ever a day you should begin to grow up that would be today, I guess.
UPBEAT Let's talk about 'From Hell.' There have been a number of stories about Jack the Ripper throughout the years, including Alan Moore's comic book take on it. Were you familiar with Moore's 'From Hell' before signing on to the film, and have you read any of the other stories on Jack the Ripper?
Johnny Depp "I've read most of them, but this one is really a strong interpretation. The one that rings the most true to
me— though it is about an American quack doctor who was in London at the time of the murders. He was brought up for questioning and was detained, and when they let him go back to America the murders stopped in England but began to occur in the states. That was pretty strong."
UPBEAT Because of the way Fox is promoting 'From Hell', in its trailers your character seems to resemble the role you played in 'Sleepy Hollow' a great deal. Any similarities between the two characters other than the look?
Johnny Depp "No, not really. It's similar territory in a way, but from my point of view the characters are so very different, they're just such different people, that in my perspective, I think Abberline would have despised Ichabod Crane."
UPBEAT Was it difficult for you to play Frederich Abberline, a character that most people know so little about?
Johnny Depp "The facts that remain on Frederich Abberline are so few and far between. I know where he was born and raised. What bothered me was that the studio wanted Abberline to live and they wanted Abberline and Mary Kelly to end up together on a beautiful rocky cliff. I was adamant that that wasn't going to happen to my character. Mary Kelly's none of my business, so I suppose she survives."
UPBEAT That being said, if you knew so little about the character, how did you build him up?
Johnny Depp "When I was thinking about how to build up the character, my first instinct was that he should be balding, but those ideas were shut down as the words were coming out of my mouth."
UPBEAT I know you worked on 'Chocolat' and 'From Hell' simultaneously. What drew you to 'From Hell?' Was your interest peaked because it was so different from 'Chocolat?'
Johnny Depp "Above and beyond everything else, the source material was just so well put together. The vision of the Hughes Brothers combined with the vision of Alan Moore... it's one of the theories on the Ripper case that was pretty shocking and pretty important. It was just a great piece of work and they should be proud of that."
UPBEAT Did the Hughes Brothers get you to watch any of the other films based on Jack the Ripper?
Johnny Depp "Are there really that many? (laughs) I watched Hitchcock's version."
UPBEAT You've certainly evolved since your days on '21 Jump Street,' yet most media types still don't usually classify you amongst Hollywood's leading men. After all you have accomplished as an actor, are you a bit offended by the
omission, or is it something you planned?
Johnny Depp "It's not that I purposely shy away from being a huge star, it's just that, the whole idea of being a 'movie star'... I've never envisioned myself in that role. I think that being a movie star would just get in the way of my being an actor. When I'm working in film, I want to play interesting characters. My favorite actors in this business are character actors, and I personally think that it's just more fulfilling and much more fun."
UPBEAT Many of your roles are based on real people, not all of whom have passed away. Is it just a coincidence that so many of your roles aren't fictional? And how does the pressure differ from playing people who are still very much alive versus those who are long deceased?
Johnny Depp "I love playing real life characters. If you play a real person though, there's much more responsibility attached to the role. With Ed Wood, he was a real filmmaker and there was some footage of him in his movies, but there wasn't enough material on him to be able to tell what he was 'really'
like— so I had more freedom in a sense. I was always afraid on 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'
though— that Hunter S. Thompson would sneak up behind me and attack me (laughs)."
UPBEAT How do you know when a film is right for you?
Johnny Depp "I can pretty much tell in the first ten or fifteen pages. It will get inside me. You know, when you read something and it surprises
you— when you are actually surprised by what you are reading— you read a lot of things and they don't surprise you. It's just straight forward
stuff— and I liked to be surprised."
 UPBEAT Recently you starred in 'The Man Who Cried,' a film which had a very strong message in it regarding gypsies. What was it liked working on the film and what drew you to it?
Johnny Depp "To me, the gypsies— I feel uncomfortable saying the word since they are all
people— but they paralleled the Native Americans in this country and what happened ever since Whitey stepped foot on American soil here. It's been that way for the gypsies, so 'The Man Who Cried' was a great opportunity to get to know those people and where they come from. Each film though that I make, more than it is a career move or anything like that, it's just an extended education each time. I take the opportunity to learn each time."
UPBEAT Looking back on the career you've had so far, how much of it do you credit to yourself?
Johnny Depp "I've been very lucky. I've known my agent, Tracy Jacobs, for about 14 years and she's just been so supportive. Even at times when I've gotten very vocal about some choices that I made, she's supported me. I know that I could have made her job a whole lot easier, so I'm really lucky."
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