Johnny Depp has declared he has ‘no further need’ for Hollywood while promoting his first film in years.
The actor made a rare public appearance at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday (17 May) for the premiere of Jeanne du Barry, his first film in three years.
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The film, directed by and starring Maïwenn, is also the first film starring Depp to be released following the conclusion of his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.
A jury unanimously found in favour of Depp in the defamation case, finding that what Heard’s op-ed piece for The Washington Post defamatory, and awarded him $15 million, which includes $10 million in compensatory damages for libel and $5 million in punitive damages, the penalty for libel.
The jury awarded Heard $2 million in compensatory damages, finding that in her countersuit, she did not prove all elements of defamation.
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Part of the Dark Shadows star’s argument was that he lost work due to Heard’s allegations that he abused her before and during their marriage.
“Did I feel boycotted by Hollywood? You’d have to not have a pulse to feel like, ‘No. None of this is happening. It’s a weird joke,’” Depp told reporters today (17 May).
“When you’re asked to resign from a film you’re doing because of something that is merely a function of vowels and consonants floating in the air, yes, you feel boycotted.”
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Depp stepped down from his role as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise in 2020. During the 2022 trial, Depp confirmed he will not return as Captain Jack Sparrow in the multi-billion dollar grossing Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. He has now said he has no need for Hollywood.
“I don’t feel boycotted by Hollywood, because I don’t think about Hollywood. I don't have much further need for Hollywood, myself,” Depp said. “It’s a strange, funny time where everybody would love to be able to be themselves, but they can’t. They must fall in line with the person in front of them. If you want to live that life, I wish you the best.”
Depp was all smiles this week as he walked the red carpet for the first time and waved to the hordes of fans and supporters - with the film receiving a seven-minute standing ovation.
In the period drama, Depp plays France's King Louis XV. It also stars Pierre Richard, Benjamin Lavernhe, Noémie Lvovsky, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud and India Hair.
The synopsis is described as: "Jeanne (Maïwenn), a young working-class woman hungry for culture and pleasure, uses her intelligence and allure to climb the rungs of the social ladder one by one.
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"She becomes the favourite of King Louis XV who, unaware of her status as courtesan, regains through her his appetite for life.
"They fall madly in love and, against all propriety and etiquette, Jeanne moves to Versailles, where her arrival scandalizes the court."
Featured Image Credit: Paul Smith / Doug Peters / Alamy Stock PhotoTopics: Celebrity, Johnny Depp, TV and Film, Cannes Film Festival