For over five years, Johnny Depp was embroiled in a high-profile legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard when they both sued each other for defamation. However, the case was eventually settled last year, with the judge awarding Depp a compensation of $15 million and $2 million to Heard.
Sadly, the tussle did not come without leaving its marks on the life of the 59-year-old. Depp confessed that his professional life had been significantly impacted by the contentious trial as he was shunned by prominent movie studios.”You’d have to not have a pulse at that point to feel like, ‘No, none of this is happening. This is actually just a weird joke,'” he said.”Of course, when you’re asked to resign from the film you’re doing because of something that is merely a bunch of vowels and consonants floating in the air, yeah, you feel a bit boycotted.”
Johnny Depp is finding his way back into the spotlight
After the lawsuit was settled, the Pirates of the Caribbean star began to take steps to find his way back into the spotlight. Reconnecting with his origin, Depp and the late Jeff Beck shared the stage for a series of concerts across Europe and also released their first joint studio album titled 18 last year July.
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The actor also showcased his talent as a successful artist bringing out his debut art collection titled Friends & Heroes. The project consisted of 780 copies of four captivating portraits of renowned entertainers like Al Pacino, Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Taylor, and Keith Richards, which were painted by Depp himself.
Interestingly, the sale of the paintings brought in a remarkable financial fortune as it earned over $3.6 million, a major feat for a beginner. The success of the project spurred Castle Fine Art Gallery, which facilitated the sale, to express their delight at the achievement. “This world-first release proved to be our fastest-selling collection to date, with all titles selling out in just hours,” they wrote via Twitter.
The 59-year-old marked his triumphant return to the big screen with a significant role in the historical romance film Jeanne du Barry, directed by French filmmaker Maïwenn. In the movie, Depp portrayed the character of King Louis XV, and it garnered considerable recognition and was chosen as the opening feature for the prestigious 76th Annual Cannes Film Festival.
The actor speaks about his comeback at the Cannes Film Festival
The actor graced the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival to attend the world premiere of his new movie, making it his first time at a public event since the trial. At a press conference held to promote the film, Depp candidly shared his thoughts on the way he believed he had been treated by the Hollywood industry throughout his extended legal dispute with his ex-wife.
“Do I feel boycotted now?” he added. “No, not at all. But I don’t feel boycotted by Hollywood because I don’t think about it. I don’t think about Hollywood. I don’t have much further need for Hollywood myself,” he confessed. “I never went anywhere.” He also argued that his absence from the spotlight was not his fault and that he has always remained committed to his career as an actor.
“People have seen or heard the word ‘comeback’ exchanged by folks and using that as a catchphrase. ‘He’s making a comeback,’ or ‘He’s made a comeback,’ I keep wondering about the word comeback because I didn’t go anywhere. As a matter of fact, I live about 45 minutes away. So yeah, maybe people stopped calling out of whatever their fear was at the time. But no, I didn’t go nowhere. I’ve been sitting around,” he added. “So ‘comeback,’ it’s almost like I’m going to come out and do a tap dance or some kind of spectacular feat on the table and dance my best for you guys, and hope that you will approve. The notion of something like that is a bizarre mystery.”