Johnny Depp’s French Sanctuary: Candid on Raising Lily-Rose & Jack Away From the Spotlight
Here’s a thought: Johnny Depp is low-key missing those Papa days in southern France. In a rare deep dive with The Sunday Times, the Pirates of the Caribbean star walked us through how life as “Papa” to Lily-Rose, 26, and Jack, 23, shaped everything—including his own sense of home. According to Depp, who split from longtime partner Vanessa Paradis in 2012, their hideaway outside Nice was “the first time I felt I had a home.” That sentiment lands differently when you realize he spent more than a decade building a private family bubble, shielded from paparazzi flashbulbs, while his kids learned to skate, study and generally grow up off-grid.
During the interview (published June 21), Depp admitted that swapping French simplicity for L.A. hustle also stripped him of his “Papa” status. “When we moved back to Los Angeles, Papa was out the window. I was Dad,” he quipped—illustrating how a change of postal code can morph your role from doting father to distant celebrity. Now 62 and battling “empty-nest syndrome,” the Edward Scissorhands alum can’t help but get nostalgic: “Truly, the first time I felt I had a home was the place in the south of France where Vanessa and I raised the kiddies. That’s the only place that ever felt like home.”
Depp’s reflections go beyond memory lane. He’s teasing a new title—grandpa—if his kids ever bless him with grandkids. “Some motherf–ker’s going to have to call me Papa!” he laughed, hinting he’s ready to pass on the baton. Meanwhile, daughter Lily-Rose has followed in his footsteps—landing roles in Netflix’s The Idol and HBO’s The King. Son Jack, however, took a decidedly low-profile route: he tended bar at a chic Lebanese spot in Paris until earlier this year, deliberately flying beneath the radar.
It turns out Depp’s own retreat from limelight—he’s scaled back auditions amid legal battles with ex Amber Heard—mirrors Jack’s preference for anonymity. “If friends invite me out for Mexican, I say, ‘Dude, that’s sweet but I will ruin your night. My presence will bring attention,’” Depp explained, underscoring why he’s stuck in hermit mode despite four decades of stardom. He even warned aspiring actors, “Don’t be,” advising young hopefuls to guard their identity against Hollywood’s urge to cast them as “poster boys” for box-office gold.
This unvarnished glimpse into Depp’s family life, sourced from E! Online and The Sunday Times, spotlights a father who treasures quiet moments over tabloid headlines. He’s crafted a blueprint: build a home first, then let your public persona follow—if at all. It’s a surprisingly grounded take from someone who’s played everything from pirate captains to gothic romantics. Anyway, that’s the deal—carry on, gossip mavens.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, The Sunday Times
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
