Johnny Depp: Disney Hated My Jack Sparrow

Johnny Depp waves during a photo call before a press conference for "Alice in Wonderland" in Tokyo on March 22, 2010.

/ YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images

NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Johnny Depp's flamboyant portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean" was good enough for an Oscar nomination, but the actor says Disney was less than thrilled.

Depp talked about it in an interview with rocker Patti Smith for the January edition of Vanity Fair magazine.

"They couldn't stand him. They just couldn't stand him," Depp says of Disney's reaction to his interpretation of Sparrow.

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One person there, he recalled, even asked if Sparrow was gay. Depp told the Disney executive "all my characters are gay," and he said that "really made her nervous."

Depp's next role is in the film "The Tourist" with Angelina Jolie.

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PICTURES: Angelina Jolie

"Meeting her and getting to know her was a real pleasant surprise," Depp said of working with Jolie. "You don't know what she might be like - if she has any sense of humor at all. I was so pleased to find that she is incredibly normal, and has a wonderfully kind of dark, perverse sense of humor."

He also told Smith he felt sorry for the way the paparazzi hunted Jolie, and had to be careful that photographers didn't catch them too close together so rumors wouldn't start.

"Poor thing, dogged by paparazzi, her and her husband, Brad...all their kids," he said. "There are times when you see how ridiculous is this life, how ludicrous it is, you know, leaving your house every morning and being followed by paparazzi."

He also compared his costar to another famous leading lady.

"I've had the honor and the pleasure and gift of having known Elizabeth Taylor for a number of years," he said. "You know, you sit down with her, she slings hash, she sits there and cusses like a sailor, and she's hilarious. Angie's got the same kind of thing, you know, the same approach."

"The Tourist" opens on Dec. 10.

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[UrsaDraconis]

Disney shouldn't say anything but "Thank you very much" to Johnny Depp. His Captain Jack Sparrow has skippered the entire 'Pirate Vogue' trend for nearly a decade.

Always blame it on the parrot.

[minnime390]

Yeah... I haven't liked Johnny Depp for a long time now. You know, he used to be a great actor... but ever since his role in Pirates of the Caribbean, every character he's played has been the exact same character, and I real can't even stand watching his movies anymore! I can't say I didn't like him in the FIRST Pirates, but the second and third one seemed... I don't know, he seemed to be over exaggerating Jack Sparrow's personality from there on out... And now, ever since then, he can't seem to let go of his Jack Sparrow persona. And I think the part that bugs me the most is the fact that everyone just can't get enough of it! I mean, he used to play all sorts of different roles. Different personalities, he could be the hero, the bad guy, a side character. Anything. But now it's just Jack Sparrow wearing different clothes and occasionally with a different accent... ugh.

[democracy5]

Which of his non-"Pirate" movies have you seen recently? You're wrong.

[Jaylah54]

When I grow up (I'm only 56 now), I'm gonna marry Johnny. Any man that can look that good in "guy-liner".... :)

[mikeforce68]

Johnny depp is one of the most versatile actors of this era. He has proven his ability to act in many different roles and to be convincing in each one. He is a National Treasure and hopefully will be remembered for his acting as he should be. Bravo Johnny, you are one of a few that truly entertain us with a raw ability of your natural self.

[democracy5]

I agree! He certainly has guts in his onscreen roles and humility in his private life. I respect that.

[6591Hou]

I suppose that Disney can corroborate the 'gay' discussion? As a one sided description of a past conversation with an unnamed woman it seems self-serving and a easy headline grab.

[BoldChapeau]

Could you possibly doubt that Disney, the ultimate corporate, mainstream, conformist, goody-two-shoes entity didn't like Depp's portrayal of Captain Jack? Come on!!! Besides, that fact is already well known. In a Johnny Depp biography of several years ago, it was said that Disney didn't like it, but let Depp play it his way in the end and just trusted he was right. And of course he was. Depp created the most lovable, original, and flamboyant fictional character ever. The movies would never have been the huge successes they were without Depp's Jack Sparrow.

[bradkt1]

I have heard that this was Disney's reaction on a couple of occasions before this. As far as I know, this is the first time that Johnny Depp confirmed it.

[zoesmith2]

I think Disney is losing focus...I suppose they would have rather used an actor much like the fake acting done on the teenage shows Disney channel shows...I think if someone else had done Jack it would not have worked.

[jt92202]

You all do understand the word "GAY" has different meanings, he could have said it with the intent that yes he all of his characters are Gay:

-adjective
1. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
2. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
3. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season.
4. licentious; dissipated; wanton: The baron is a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies.
5. homosexual.
6. of, indicating, or supporting homosexual interests or issues: a gay organization.
-noun
7. a homosexual person, esp. a male.
-adverb
8. in a gay manner.

[rwsmith29456]

Thank you for someone who realizes that the word 'gay' doesn't automatically have to have only homosexual connotations.

[mitch0927]

I believe he said that just to get the reaction he did from her. The interview he did was way before he made the "Tourist"

[billgates0001]

I remember watching Johnny Depp getting interviewed by David Letterman and he said the people at Disney were also commenting that Jack Sparrow was nothing more than a druken pirate with some kind of speech impediment, very hard to articulate nor understand what he says. Bogger!

[buckn]

WEll, it appears that Disney was wrong. I must admit that the first time I was Depp was in Edward Scissorhands and couldn't stand him. Then, I saw him in other roles and realized just what a talented and versitile performer he really is. I re-watched Scissorhands with a new appreciation.