Johnny Depp: The Illustrated Biography

by Nick Johnstone

As a child, Johnny Depp was an outsider. He found expression through music, and by thirteen he was playing in bands at clubs. He had taken every kind of drug there was by the age of fourteen, and had found himself on the wrong side of the law in petty-crime offences. As an adult he turned to acting, but continued to live by his own rules, confounding and delighting critics and fans alike with his choice of roles. He has only played parts that speak to him ? from Edward Scissorhands to Captain Jack, a colorful array of misfits, outsiders and renegades ? and commits only to films that he believes posses value. And now, with the staggering box-office success of Pirates of the Caribbean, he has achieved a formidable position in Hollywood without compromising along the way. This book traces that extraordinary journey from wild-child rebel to Hollywood mogul. Compelling, charismatic and edgy, Johnny Depp has become one of the world's most bankable stars, but more despite his artistic in

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2006

Reviews

[Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very, very light read. So light it's like going for reduced fat milk rather then full cream. Basically it skims the life of Johnny Depp which is probably understandable when it's about a man who doesn't appreciate having his private life delved into (as keeps coming up through out the book). Through out it I wondered how much Depp had consented to this book (if at all) because you could tell that a lot of information was from other sources and past interviews.
If you're interested in reading this book I recommend it only for the photographs and if you're a big Depp fan (obviously I am or else I would've given it a lower rating) as the photographs aren't exactly exceptional and there aren't many of them.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written documentation of Johnny Depp, from poverty through his rise to fame. Many wonderful pictures, lots of great memories of the movies he made. A few forays into his personal life, such as girlfriends along the way, but largely centered on his career and his struggles before his rise to fame.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about the life of Johnny Depp, and his rise to public notice. I loved reading about him as a person, and not just as one of my favorite actors. The explanation of his relationship and friendship with directors and other actors, those I found touching and I hadn't really thought of them before. I knew he'd worked with Burton a lot, but reading about every film they've made together was a great experience.

The pictures chosen for this book are excellent, and really capture his life. I had no idea about his musical tendencies, and seeing photographic proof was marvelous. I was sad to read of his former relationships, but happy to read about how he met his current wife and had kids.

He is one of those remarkable actors who seems to bring alive every character he plays. He is so unique! Of course, this leads him to be criticized (my own mother refuses to watch any film he is in because she can't stand his style) but ever since watching Benny and Joon with my drama class, he has been one of my favorite actors.

Highly recommend this book to fans of Johnny, and his movies!

[Sheri Vasconcellos Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a straight talk on jonny depps life. His acting ,musical and love life all explained in a book with lots of pictures

[Lenka Sadílková · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slaďouš Johnny!
.
Má první kniha o slavné osobnosti a nesáhla jsem vedle. Biografie obsahuje mnoho fotografií, takže se fanoušek rozhodně pokochá. Miluju jeho role zejména v Pirátech z Karibiku, Alence v říši divů a jako Sweeneyho Todda.
.
Rozhodně jsem se díky knize dozvěděla mnoho nových informací nejen o jeho přístupu k hereckým rolím, ale také o tom jaký je. Johnny je opravdu velmi složitá osobnost, ale přitom milující a velmi skromný což se mi líbí nejvíc. Samozřejmě, že rozhodně není žádný svatoušek, ale to nikdo. Obdivuji ho za to, že si vše vydobil sám. Ne každá cesta celebrity je vyšlapaná od rodičů. Během svého života si toho prožil hodně a já mu držela palce aby dosáhl toho co je pro něj v životě nejdůležitější.

[Karie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Известен главно заради касовите си хитове и сексапилната си външност, личността на Джони Деп често остава недооценена. Именно тази книга хвърля светлина върху душевността на актьора- скромен, старомоден, верен на принципите си и човек с усет, той се издига до върха от състояние, в което едва е свързвал двата края. Биографията е стегната, без никакви излишни подробности, набляга се както на професионалната кариера, така и на ярката индивидуалност на Деп и умелият му подход към изиграването на роли. Зад красивата външност стои човек, работещ усърдно, интелигентен, съвестен. Впечатли ме отдадеността на професията му, но и това, че винаги остава верен на принципите си- филмите, в които избира да участва, са с висока художествена стойност, често не с високо заплащане. Актьорът предпочита да се въплъти в образа, който ще играе. Прави детайлни проучвания на психиката на образите; а когато се касае за биографични филми, той се среща с личността, опитва се да вникне в същността й, да подражава изказа, маниерите и т.н., за да придобие достоверност. Деп не може да изиграе дадена роля, ако не я чувства, затова и винаги се опитва да намери сходство между себе си и героите си. Това му помага да играе по-естествено, да се вживее до такава степен, че да се превърне в друг човек.

''Това показва за потвърждава път, че когато не може да почувства даден образ и не намира лична връзка с него, магията просто се губи.'' по повод слабата гледаемост и лишеността от пристсъвие в изпълнението на Деп в ''Жената на астронавта'' (1999)

Джони е добър приятел. Нетипично за човек с неговия статут и външност, той изпъква с моногамията си и предпочита спокойния начин на живот пред повърхностната слава, отличителните награди, популярност в медиите и пр. Много съвестен като човек, той има самоконтрол, разумен е, прави всичко в името на семейството си. Неразбирането, самотата и бунтарството от младостта му преминават със създаването на семейство, а и с придобиването на житейски опит, дори чрез сериозните роли, които играе. Той е един от малкото хора, които не стават горди и високомерни с повишаването на известността. Ненавижда всичко това и винаги остава себе си. Деп е един човек, който знае как да намери баланса в живота си и да е щастлив въпреки всичко. Няколко негови думи, които наистина оставиха трайна следа в паметта ми:


''Мога да се справям със събитията. Сега вече аз съм този, който ги контролира. Почти съм склонен да изпитвам чувство на вина, задето съм толкова щастлив. Човек понякога започва да мисли, че сигурно го очаква нещо ужасно- после се озърташ и виждаш около себе си само палми и собственото си семейство. Запазил съм циничното си отношение към много неща, но възгледите ми за света вече не са толкова мрачни. Успях да постигна зрелост, без да загубя способността си да се забавлявам. Всички знаят, че в продължение на доста години живях на острието на бръснача. Затова сега се чувствам толкова добре, като водя щастлив и спокоен живот. Когато бях дванайсетгодишен, имах чувството, че съм се изправил сам срещу останалия свят. Спомням си как се заключвах в стаята си и свирех на китара. Имам чувството, че съм прекарал там цели две или три години. Най-важното нещо за мен сега, е че вече живея в мир със себе си. Не ми се налага да се преструвам, не ми трябва да си съчинявам образ, който няма нищо общо с истинската ми личност.''

Препоръчвам тази книга на всички, които се интересуват от същността на един наистина стойностен човек, а не се прехласват само по външността му. Биографията би била интересна и за тези, които пряко се интересуват от актьора, така и за тези, които не го познават особено.

[Azura Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

" Johnny Depp is a chameleon. He, in my opinion, has never done the same performance twice." - Nick Johnstone, Johnny Depp : The Illustrated Biography
.
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🖤 Johnny is a loverboy. He is also very protective over his loved one. Although he always showed the bad sides of him to the public, he is indeed covering the flaws made by people he loved. No wonder all of his acquintaces and his exes never gave bad comments towards him. (Except for the 'X''s Ex. 🙄)
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💬 "Nobody is without some degree of flaw. We're all horribly flawed in some way." - Johnny Depp.
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💬 "He's more that character than anything else he's done. There's a sadness about Johnny I just respond to." - Tim Burton
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💬 "It's very hard to have a personal life in this town. My relationship with Winona, it was my mistake to be as open as we were, but I thought if we were honest it would destroy that curiosity monster. Instead it fed it, gave people license to feel they were part of it." - Johnny Depp
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💬 "He's moody and very emotional and very sensitive. In real life, sometimes it's hard for him to decide where to eat or what to do, but as an actor he's very precise." - Jim Jarmusch
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💬 "I have a really traditional view of marriage. I want a family and a house in the country with a couple of dogs and a goldfish." - Johnny Depp
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💬 "I'm an old-fashioned guy. I want to be an old man with a beer belly sitting on a porch, looking at a lake or something" - Johnny Depp

[Jevron McCrory · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is pretty clear. This large-sized book is far more focused on pictures than text and what text there is doesn't delve too deeply.

There's a nice variety of shots from behind the scenes and movie stills to a smattering of award shows. (And one GORGEOUS pic of Johnny with Kate Moss, who was absolutely STUNNING back in the day!)

This isn't the book to read if you're after a detailed biography of Depp - Brian J Robb's book scores bigger on that front - but, let's face it, Depp's admirers are gonna want to get their hands on a heavily illustrated book.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a Johnny Depp fan and was able to learn a number of things I hadn't known before. I think this book was refreshing as a biography with all the added photos....so many biographies are stuffy and boring. I didn't like how repetitive certain facts became or sentences that were almost identical throughout.

[Kristal Stidham · Rating 4 out of 5]

In interesting recap of Johnny's acting roles, relationships and wardrobe choices up to his 50th birthday, which is about when he started up with Amber Heard. Any fan would enjoy this book. Personally, I learned a few interesting tidbits and didn't mind an extended gander at most of the pictures.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,57⭐️
Älskar Johnny Depp så mycket de e galet. Men känner att Nick Johnstone inte hade behövt skriva att Johnny är filmikon på var 3e sida. Jag förstår det liksom?

[Alan Kimball · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in a easy style..........Johnny Depp story is unsual

[Marissa Genta Pineda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I discovered this book at the library, I was tempted to spurn it because I didn't want to appear a dippy, salivating fan. But, then I thought, eh, what the hey. Unlike other "illustrated" celebrity biographies, this book didn't peddle Depp as a sex symbol. I was pleased with the relatively objective look at the man's life and personal philosophies. The pictures of Depp weren't especially flattering, which also pleased me. I've always identified more with the quirky, dark side of the man than the hottie side. There are some great quotes by Tim Burton (another man I've admired for eons for his oddball-ness.)

Note that the book seems to have been based on past interviews from various sources, and commentary, rather than with the author's personal interviews with Depp.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lately, I've been going through a phase, where I've been watching a lot of Johnny Depp movies, particularity ones I haven't seen before. So, when I was at the library working and I was this biography I decided why not? It's not like it's very long.

I found the information to be informative and interesting, however, I hated the fact that the author writing the bio felt the need to put his two cents in about some of Depp's performances. I mean, the author can have his own opinion, but that's not what writing a bio about someone is about... So, this kind of pissed me off. As the author did this more than once throughout the book.

Overall, I thought the information was sound but Johnstone should have kept his opinions to himself.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice "coffee table" kind of book. It has beautiful photos and the photos run right next to the text he is talking about, which makes it easy to follow through a basic run down of Johnny Depp's life. I found it charming and light. Always sad when you read about divorce and actors. Johnny doesn't really like marriage, but I hate to burst his bubble, but all of his "relationships" that he had, are marriages. No escaping the pain of breakup, even when you can't commit on paper. All and all, I liked seeing his life in kind of a "abc" from youth to present day. There is no denying Johnny Depp is a great actor. I am a big fan. I think he is a nice guy. Which is rare to find in Hollywood. I would say pick this book up if you are a fan.

[Peachy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of my favorite, Johnny Depp!! For all you Johnny Depp afficionados, read this!! From his early days as a musician (his first love , by the way, is music...till now!), his movies, his extraordinary roles, his famous girlfriends, his "bad boy" days and being a "family man" at present...this book's quite an interesting journey! He's such an intense and powerful actor (not just a pretty face!) that he's not afraid to let himself get "dirty" of "ugly" for a particular role. I JUST LOVE HIM!!!

[Solar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Достойнство на тази книга й придават твърдите корици и ако се дистанцираме от твърдите корици и гланцираните илюстровани страници, съдържанието повече е подходящо като притурка към неделния вестник. Биографията е написана като доклад някак между другото. Описани са стегнато филмите, в които е участвал Джони Деп, споменати са известните му връзки и в резултат не успях да добавя нищо допълнително към представата си за Джони Деп. Гласувам обаче с 4 звезди, защото все пак става въпрос за Джони Деп:)и ми беше приятно да прекарам остатъка от деня с това четиво

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Johnny Depp is such an actor. He seems to go out of his way to take on roles most actors would reject. He is great where he hams it up with his pithy sense of humor and he plays drama well also. Great photos in this book.

[Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!!!!!!<3333

[Alessandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

mmm... johnny.

[Anna]

Review in Swedish: http://bookshelf.blogg.se/2012/januar...

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

[MarylineD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good and interesting! For all fans!

[Patti Steich]

I love Johnny Depp so any book about that is good i like