More Pirate Booty For Johnny Depp

Piracy was rewarding work for Johnny Depp this year: E! Entertainment Television named the "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" star as its entertainer of the year.

The network bestows the award in a special on Monday at 9 p.m. ET.

Justin Timberlake, Beyonce Knowles, Colin Farrell, Will Ferrell, Queen Latifah and Arnold Schwarzenegger are among the other celebrities that E! found particularly intriguing this year.

Depp, 40, based his character, Capt. Jack Sparrow, on Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.

Last month, People magazine named Depp the "Sexiest Man Alive 2003," saying the actor, known for his "brooding eccentricities," has mellowed since becoming a father.

Depp has two young children with his girlfriend, French actress and pop singer Vanessa Paradis.

"Because he arrived at his new, happy place without selling out, without becoming slick or packaged or politically correct, he is a hero to his fans and an idol to his young co-stars," People said in its Dec. 1 issue.

"I want my kids and my grandkids someday to be able to go, 'Yeah, Pops, he really held it together and he did the right thing,'" Depp told E! "'He didn't stray from the path, and he didn't sell out and go for the big dough early on or anything.' I would be very, very proud if they felt that."

The 40-year-old actor is known for hiding under layers of hats and blankets in his private life and behind oddball characters in his films, the magazine said. "But he is finally coming to terms with his own charisma ... "

Depp also has starred in "Edward Scissorhands," "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Sleepy Hollow" and "Chocolat." His upcoming movies include "J.M. Barrie's Neverland." Barrie was the author of "Peter Pan."