Johnny Depp is largely in the headlinesthese days because of a libel suit he lost, which resulted in him losing anumber of projects. In the middle of all of this hostility, we decided to take you back in time today and tell you about how he got his start in the film industry. While we all know he wanted to be a musician, it is owing to actor Nicolas Cage that he has become one of Hollywood's top stars today.
We don't doubt Depp's commitment to thetrade, but did you know that it was Cage who first encouraged Johnny to pursueacting? Nicolas encouraged the Fantastic Beasts star to meet his agent when he was still selling pens, and the rest is history. Continue reading to hear the Ghost Rider actor recount the whole ordeal.
Nicolas Cage explained how he helped JohnnyDepp make his start in Hollywood during an interview with the New York Times in2019. Talking about how he first became friends with the Pirates of the Caribbean star, the National Treasure actor said, “The true story is that we were already friends. I was living in an old building in Hollywood called the Fontenoy, and I think I ultimately rented the apartment to Johnny, and he started living there.”
Adding that this was the time Johnny Deppwas selling pens to make ends meet, Nicolas Cage stated, “But anyway, we weregood friends, and we would play Monopoly, and he was winning a game, and I was watching him and I said, ‘Why don’t you just try acting?’” Cage added that Depp was hesitant at that time to take it up as he wanted to make it big as a musician and has said, “No, I can’t act” (Can you believe it!)
Continuing on how he helped Johnny get hisHollywood break, Nicolas said, “I said, ‘I think you can act.’ So I sent him tomeet with my agent. She sent him out on his first audition, which was A Nightmare on Elm Street. (And) he got the part that day.” In that same conversation, Cage added that Depp was an overnight success, saying, “Overnight sensations don’t happen. But it happened with him.”
Thank you, Nicolas Cage, for encouraginghim to try acting; else, we might never have witnessed this gem. Johnny Depphas given us several beloved roles over the course of his career, including Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, and many more.
