Johnny Depp says new movie role “made no sense” at first
In Jeanne du Barry, Johnny Depp stars as French King Louis XV, who falls in love with Madame du Barry and embarks on a relationship that scandalises the court in Versailles.
At the UK premiere of the movie, Depp described feeling “strangely, oddly, perversely lucky” to have been given such an opportunity, saying that the offer immediately casted his mind back to Kentucky where “everything is fried” and you come “from the bellybutton of nowhere and suddenly you end up playing the King of France.”
Depp, who has rarely endorsed public appearances since his trial with ex-wife Amber Heard, said that he “tried to talk [director Maïwenn] out of it” because choosing him for the role “made no sense to me.”
The actor said that the director displayed great courage and hopes that the audience will “find it was well worth the agony of this kid trying to make a film for that length of time,” per Variety.
Maïwenn had wanted to bring Jeanne du Barry to the big screen since 2016 due to being “obsessed by Jeanne for many years because she was a feminist before everybody else.” The film opened at Cannes Film Festival last year and earned a seven-minute standing ovation.
Depp has largely remained out of the spotlight since his court case with Heard, but remains a significant and influential figure in Hollywood despite the damage the saga did to his reputation.
Recently, the actor was accused of being toxic and abusive on the set of 2001 thriller Blow, in which actor Lola Glaudini accused him of aggressively ridiculing her after she laughed loudly during the background of a take.
Detailing the situation, Glaudini said that after she did a “big laugh”, Depp walked over to her and “sticks his finger in my face.” She claims that Depp then proceeded to lambast her, saying: “Who the fuck do you think you are? Who the fuck do you think you are? Shut the fuck up. I’m out here, and I’m trying to fucking say my lines and you’re fucking pulling focus. You fucking idiot.”
Responding to the allegations, a representative for Depp said: “Johnny always prioritises good working relationships with cast and crew and this recounting differs greatly from the recollection of other members on set at the time.”
Jeanne du Barry is scheduled for release on April 19th. Watch the trailer below.