Johnny Depp Plays Spin Doctor

(AP)  Actor Johnny Depp says his comments about the United States were taken out of context. The German magazine Stern quoted Depp as saying, "America is dumb, is something like a dumb puppy that has big teeth."

But Depp said he didn't intend any "anti-American sentiment" -- adding that it was an "insanely twisted deformation of my words and intent."

The magazine stands by the story.

The actor said what he meant was that America is a very young country when compared with Europe -- and he says it's still growing. He says he loves his country and has "great hopes for it."

The "Edward Scissorhands" and "Blow" star, who spends much of his time in the south of France with his companion, Vanessa Paradis, and their two small children, also told the magazine he couldn't see himself paying more than short visits to his Los Angeles residence in the present political climate.

Depp recalled that French fries were renamed "Freedom" fries in the House cafeteria on Capitol Hill at the height of U.S. anger over France's refusal to back the administration of President Bush over the war in Iraq.

"Nothing made me happier than when I read that — grown men and grown women in positions of power in the United States government," Depp said. "I was ecstatic because they revealed themselves as idiots."

Depp said he wanted his two children, ages 1 and 4, to experience the United States "like it's a kind a toy — a broken toy maybe. Investigate a little bit, check it out, get this feeling and then get out."