Johnny Depp Details How Nicolas Cage Helped Him Become An Actor

Johnny Depp revealed that The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent actor Nicolas Cage helped him become an actor. Depp began his career in the early 80s after attempting to be a musician, starring in Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street and Oliver Stone’s Platoon before landing a regular role in the 21 Jump Street TV series. The actor would later form a working relationship with director Tim Burton, starring in a number of his films, including Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, etc. Depp’s most high-profile role would come in the form of Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, in which he appeared in all five entries.

Cage began his career around the same time, having early success in films like Valley Girl and Fast Times At Ridgemont High before branching out into a series of quirky dramas and comedies, such as Moonstruck, Raising Arizona, It Could Happen To You, and Wild at Heart. Cage won an Oscar for his work in Leaving Las Vegas, which propelled him to superstardom, where he appeared in several high-profile films, becoming an action star for a time with hits like The Rock, Con Air, Face/Off, and Gone in 60 Seconds. The actor would appear in dozens more films, becoming one of the most prolific actors in Hollywood.

Currently, Depp is at the defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, taking the stand and providing insight into his past relationships, including his friendship with Cage, who is the one who suggested he try out acting. According to Depp (via Angenette Levy from the trial), he played in bands and worked odd jobs to make ends meet when he met Cage, who had the future actor meet with his agent to get an audition. Depp would secure his first role in A Nightmare On Elm Street, for which he was cast on the day of the audition, altering his life forever. Check out Depp’s testimony thread below:

Depp has been embroiled in legal woes since divorcing Heard in 2016, initially suing The Sun over a libel case, as they cited he was a “wifebeater” in an article they published on the actor. He lost that case, eventually suing Heard in 2019 for defamation after an article she published in The Washington Post in 2018 claimed he was abusive. The trial over the defamation case is currently ongoing, with numerous friends, acquaintances, and employees taking the stand during the complex trial, which has left many on both sides of the argument.

Depp has suffered setbacks due to the allegations thus far, having been forced out of the high-profile role of Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, replaced by Mads Mikkelsen in the latest entry in the series. Heard was able to keep her role as Mera in the Aquaman franchise and will again appear in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom next year. However, there was considerable online pushback on her continued occupation of the part. Whether or not the outcome of the defamation trial will affect either actor is yet to be seen, but the repercussions could be dire depending on how the court rules. Currently, Cage is starring in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, while Johnny Depp is doing voice work for the Puffins animated series, and Heard was last seen in The Stand mini-series as Nadine Cross.