Depp picks films to make his kids proud

updated 5:59 p.m. ET July 11, 2005

NASSAU, Bahamas - Once known as a Hollywood bad boy, Johnny Depp has grown into more of a suburban dad.

These days, Depp can be found at his home in the south of France with singer-actress Vanessa Paradis and their two children, 6-year-old Lily Rose and 3-year-old Jack. So it seems fitting that the latest of Depp’s long line of offbeat characters is Willy Wonka in the film version of Roald Dahl’s novel “Charlie and Chocolate Factory.”

Why play Willy, a role immortalized by Gene Wilder in the 1971 classic? Besides wanting to make his children happy, Depp was eager to collaborate for a fifth time with director Tim Burton, who gave him his breakout movie role in 1990’s “Edward Scissorhands.”

During an interview at a resort near filming of two “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequels, the 42-year-old Depp was in full Captain Jack Sparrow regalia — bandanna, gold teeth, unkempt dreadlocks — as he sat down with The Associated Press to talk about movies, fame and family.

AP: You’ve said every movie you’ve done has been for your children, even before they were born. What do you mean by that?

Depp: In the late ’80s when I was on that TV show “21 Jump Street.” On the one hand it was a great thing. It was an incredible learning experience. It did a lot for me. I was making money for the first time in my life. That was not bad. There were a lot of very positive aspects to that situation. There were also negative aspects. At that time as a television actor, it was very, very difficult to break into films. ...

I was released (from “Jump Street”) while I was doing “Edward Scissorhands,” and I swore to myself that I would only work on these films or these projects that I would at least someday be able to say to my kids, ‘That was all me. That’s pure me. I didn’t sell out because I don’t want you to be mortified or embarrassed.’ So that was what was in my head at the time, just thinking if I am going to this, I am going to do it on my terms. If I am going to fail, I am going to fail on my own terms.

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AP: Why do you and Tim Burton work so well together?

Depp: It all stems from Tim’s bravery. Early on for “Edward Scissorhands” we had this great meeting and somehow connected. I never expected that he would cast me in that role. I never expected that he would take the risk on me which was a really big risk at that time. He just did and somehow there is this kind of mutual understanding of things, and a mutual fascination with people, human beings, weirdness, character flaws, human tics and all of that stuff.

AP: Did you watch the original “Willy Wonka”? Did it inspire how you portrayed your character?

Depp: I watched the original when I was a kid. I ended up watching it with my kids, up until it was time for me to play the role of Willy Wonka. (Then), when my kids would put the DVD in, I would run to the next room because I didn’t want to be influenced at all. I was really conscious about making sure I went to a different area than Gene Wilder. I loved his character. I loved Willy Wonka as a kid. He was the best thing in it for sure.

AP: Gene Wilder has said “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was only remade to make money and that Hollywood has no business messing with a classic film. What’s your take on this?

Depp: Somebody sent me an article where Gene Wilder said, “Why would they remake Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory?” We didn’t remake “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” we remade (the book) “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” It’s based on the same book they based theirs on. Making a statement that they only made this film because of the money is a really odd statement to make from a guy who has been in the business as long as he has ... all movies were made because somebody somewhere wanted a return on their dollar that they spent. Ultimately it’s a business. If you can dance around in there and avoid the sharp edges, and understand the game, but not play the game, then you’re OK. Of course it is a dirty business, but that doesn’t mean that it’s all about money for me. My intentions are as pure as they can be.

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