Johnny Depp’s Ex-Agent Says Actor Has ‘Fundamental Issues’ With Anger And Drug Taking

Johnny Depp's former agent has told the court how she watched the Pirates of the Caribbean star destroy his own career with his temper and bad behaviour, flared by his use of drugs and alcohol.

United Talent Agency agent Tracey Jacobs told the court in Fairfax, Virginia, she helped Depp become 'the biggest star in the world'. Until he became a difficult client.

"He wasn't initially, and it became far more complicated in the last 10 years of my representing him," Jacobs told the court.

The talent agent went on to explain her professional relationship with the actor became fraught over his 'unprofessional behaviour'.

"[He was] showing up late to set, consistently, on virtually every movie," she said.

"I would get yelled at. I never said to him you're a 'difficult client', but I was very honest with him and said you've got to stop doing this, this is hurting you. And it did."

Jacobs told the court that Depp's behavioural change was the result of his increased drinking and use of drugs, adding he 'romanticised drug culture' and had 'fundamental issues with anger'.

The Hollywood power broker said she had tried to speak to the Pirates of the Caribbean star about his behaviour, but it was no use.

By then, Depp's behaviour was hurting his reputation in Hollywood.

"His star had dimmed, given the reputation he'd acquired due to his lateness and other things. People were talking and the question was out there about his behaviour," she said.

Jacobs added: "Initially crews loved him because he was always so great with the crew but crews don't love sitting around for hours and hours waiting for the star of the movie to show up.

"It also got around town - people talk - and it made people reluctant to use him toward the end."

Depp fired the agent in 2016, with her explaining to the court that 'he terminated essentially everyone in his life and I was along for the ride'.

She went on to detail Depp’s behaviour on set before she was sacked, telling the court that the actor was increasingly reliant on earpieces to feed him his lines.

Jacobs also claimed that no one at Disney had ever confirmed he would return for the sixth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise after his behaviour in Australia. 

The talent agent testified that she had to travel to Australia twice during shooting for the fifth instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean after fielding complaints about him 'not showing up' or his 'lateness'.

Depp then had production shut down for weeks after slicing the tip of his finger. 

When asked about Depp's current reputation in Hollywood she said that 'these lawsuits don't help'.

Depp's $50 million ($AUD 70.4m, £40m) defamation suit against ex-wife Amber Heard continues.

Heard has counter-sued Depp for $100 million ($AUD 140.8m, £80m).

Depp's legal action came after Heard wrote an op-ed in 2018 for The Washington Post, which was headlined: "I spoke up against sexual violence - and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change."

The trial was set to end on May 19, however, has been extended to May 27 as there is still a significant amount of evidence to be presented.