Forget blockbuster movies and award-winning roles, Johnny Depp says meeting his partner Vanessa Paradis and having children has been his greatest achievement.
He splits his time between a mansion in LA, an ancient villa in France and his own private island in the Bahamas. His movies gross millions and his latest turn as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is set to win him more legions of screaming fans. Yet despite this, Johnny Depp remains refreshingly down to earth and – dare we say it – normal.
Deliberately shying away from the spotlight, the 47-year-old, who started out life as a teen heart-throb in the 80s drama 21 Jump Street, lives an anonymous life with his partner of 13 years, French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis, 38, and their two children, Lily-Rose, 11, and Jack, 9. As Johnny tells Woman’s Day, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
How do you avoid the attention that comes with being a celebrity?
It’s a compromise. I can’t really do things like take the kids to Disneyland. But we have a garden in France where they can play and I live very simply. I spend my time looking after my garden, relaxing with a book and a bottle of wine at the end of the day. It’s not a hard life.
You’ve said you finally found peace after years of feeling at war with the world…
It was more a war with myself. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted – and then I met the woman who made me see what I was missing. Raising a family and spending so much time with our kids is what has really had the most calming influence on me.
How has your life changed since meeting Vanessa and having a family?
They became my focus and put things into perspective. Nothing makes me happier than watching Vanessa and my kids – just realising that they’re my world. It’s pure joy. That’s why I’m glad to be able to have the freedom to live my life the way I want, and to give my kids and family the best possible life I can give them.
