10 Of Johnny Depp’s Best Roles

3 Oscar nominations. Not a single win. That hasn’t stopped Mr. Depp from being one of the most versatile actors this generation has seen. He started his career in 1984 at the age of 21 and rapidly rose to fame to become a teen idol due to his performance in the prominent TV series 21 Jump Street. Be it horror, romance, or fantasy, Depp has been there, done that. Be children’s movie such as Alice in Wonderland or macabre ones like Edward Scissorhands, a few prosthetics, and Depp turns into a completely different person on screen! In 2015, he was inducted as a Disney legend. Here are some of his best roles:

1. Nightmare On Elm Street

A relatively young 21-year-old Depp played Glen Lantz in the horror flick of 1984 – Nightmare on Elm Street. A movie which opened up Depp’s acting potential to the world but never fully explored it. During its release, it was touted as one of the best horror flicks of the year though over time; it has lost its charm to gorier, scarier movies that use better prosthetics. The movie received two awards and three nominations and was Depp’s first big screen experience.

2. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

In 2005, Depp lent himself to the role of the moody Willy Wonka in the movie adaption of prolific author Roald Dahl’s bestseller Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. And he was apparently a success as deemed by the statistics. The movie received an Oscar nomination, a total of 46 nominations and won 15. For the movie, Nestle provided bars of a whopping 1850 chocolates! Fun fact: For the voice of Willy Wonka, Depp first let his daughter have the first listen. Needless to say, she stamped her approval. In one of the beginning scenes of the movie, there is also a tiny reference to one of Depp’s earliest movies – Edward Scissorhands! Have you spotted it yet?

3. Sleepy Hollow

Johnny Depp An iconic award-winning-actor that doesn’t watches >> Read More... played the questionable Ichabod Crane in the 1999 movie adaption of Washington Irving’s famous romantic, dark gothic-style short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. The movie is yet another Tim Burton Tim Burton was born on August 25th, 1958 at Burban >> Read More... and Depp collaboration, one of five in the fifteen years to come. Depp offers a performance worthy of an Oscar as he effortlessly plays the policeman placed to investigate a series of rather gruesome murders. The movie went on to win an Oscar, received 39 nominations and won 23. The movie had an estimated budget of $100 million!

4. Alice In Wonderland Click to look into! >> Read More...

Depp is nearly unrecognizable in his role as the Lewis Carroll’s endearingly maddening Mad Hatter in the 2010 version of Alice in Wonderland! Another one from the archives of Tim Burton and Depp collaborations to feast our eyes on. This movie won 2 Oscars, received a total of 62 nominations and won 32 of them. He lends life to the character in his usual effervescent manner and never fails to impress with his quirks and witty remarks. With the heavy makeup, green eyes, flaming red hair and signature hat, Depp takes on an entirely different persona on screen as he prances around in a perfect imitation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved character. It was the first film that Tim Burton directed alongside the Walt Disney Company since his departure from it in 1980.

5. Pirates Of The Caribbean

Most would agree that it’s safe to say that this is the only one of Depp’s portrayals that have managed to stick with him for a long time. The franchise first opened with the highly successful Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in 2003 and after four swashbuckling hits, has another one planned for a 2017 release. The Curse of the Black Pearl was nominated 5 Oscars, 88 other nominations of which it won 31. In an interview, Depp even claimed that he was always happy to hear that another franchise is being made because he longs to slip into those torn and patched, yet comfortable clothes and sport a goatee. He may play as many roles as he wants, but to kids of this generation, he will always be Caption Jack Sparrow.

6. Finding Neverland

This is a sweet and comforting part-biopic on J. M. Barrie and his relationship with a family who were his inspiration for his famous children’s’ book “ Peter Pan Story soon >> Read More... ”. The movie went on to win an Oscar, receive 77 other nominations and win 20 of them. In the most gentle and reassuring of ways, Depp takes the viewers by their hands and shows them the intricacies of an artist’s mind, the constant urge to do better and how easily society judges one. The 2004 movie ended being a pinnacle in Depp’s career for one of his few light-hearted yet deeply emotional roles.

7. The Tourist Click to look into! >> Read More...

A 2010 action movie that sees Depp return to his onscreen portrayal of a charismatic gentleman with a broken heart; a role which he has proved time and again to be a master at. His character Frank Tupelo seems to all heartbroken, sweet and mysteriously alluring all at once. While the movie received 3 Golden Globe nominations, it didn’t turn out to be critic favorite. Depp and Angelina Jolie Who will not be stung with her “pouting lips?” Ang >> Read More... both sizzle with their playful flirtation and burning chemistry. Slightly predictable with scores of action and romance intertwined with witty punches; this movie is a classic in its own right.

8. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street

Based off the much-acclaimed Broadway musical, Depp’s portrayal of the infamous Sweeney Todd, aka Benjamin Barker went on to win the film an Academy Award. A dark musical with electric performances and Depp sporting layers of white makeup and a wild hair with a running white streak, the movie received critical success for being a surreal masterpiece. It was directed by Tim Burton.

9. Dark Shadows Click to look into! >> Read More...

In 2012, Depp departed again from his usual roles to play the uptight Barnabas Collins, a vampire in another one of Tim Burton’s movies. While not highly successful or much acclaimed due to its inability at being a nice gothic thriller, it is nevertheless worth seeing if only for Depp’s character – a fish-out-of-water vampire who has been woken after two centuries. Helena Bonham Carter Helena Bonham Carter CBE is one of the prominent a >> Read More... also features in the film as Dr. Julia Hoffman. She and Depp have previously worked together in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

10. Before Night Falls

The presence of this movie on the list is maybe debatable due to Depp’s extremely short cameo appearance as the transgender Bon Bon. However, the fact that Depp managed to steal hearts in a few seconds, just as he stole a kiss in the movie with élan is worth a mention. The movie was nominated for an Oscar. In retrospect, Depp has played vast numbers of characters, not all encompassed in this list. Keep doing what you do best!