Lily-Rose Depp Shares How Her Father’s Favorite Film “Traumatized” Her During Childhood: “I Got Really Upset”

Lily-Rose Depp recently shared her childhood fears regarding her father’s film, highlighting which movie left a lasting impression on her. As the daughter of Johnny Depp, known for his iconic portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the beloved Pirates of the Caribbean series, and French artist Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose grew up in a rich cultural environment filled with film and music, dividing her time between the United States and France. She made her acting debut in Kevin Smith’s Tusk and has since starred in various productions, including Netflix’s The King and HBO’s The Idol.

At 25 years old, Depp’s latest role is alongside Bill Skarsgård in Robert Eggers’ upcoming remake of the classic vampire film, Nosferatu, which premieres in 2024. This film features a talented cast including Willem Dafoe, Emma Corrin, and Nicholas Hoult. Lily-Rose’s venture into the horror genre is not overly surprising, considering her father’s history with gothic horror fantasy films like Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd, and The Corpse Bride. Yet, one particular film from Johnny Depp’s filmography profoundly unsettled her during her formative years.

Lily-Rose Depp Was “Traumatized”By Edward Scissorhands

Early Exposure to Edward Scissorhands

In the 1990 Tim Burton classic, Edward Scissorhands, Johnny Depp embodies the character of Edward, a unique individual with scissors for hands, crafted by an eccentric inventor who dies before completing him. The film portrays Edward’s struggles for acceptance as he is taken in by Peg (Dianne Wiest) and forms a poignant relationship with her daughter (Winona Ryder). Despite his inherently gentle nature, Edward’s unsettling appearance leads to heartbreak and rejection from the community.

Lily-Rose Depp revealed in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar that she was “traumatized” by this film, having watched it at a tender age of three. She clarifies, however, that her fear stemmed not from Edward himself but rather from the hostility exhibited by the townsfolk. This emotional connection to the film persists, as she reflects that it is a “difficult childhood memory” that has influenced her perception of similar characters in her work, including Count Orlok in Nosferatu:

I was traumatized by it. Not because I thought he was scary, but because everyone was being so mean to him and I got really upset. I remember being petrified by that, which is weird, because I don’t have many memories from when I was that young. It’s a difficult childhood memory. Edward’s the good guy and Nosferatu’s kind of the bad guy, but there’s a part of me that feels a little bit of empathy for Nosferatu. I mean, am I sick for feeling that way?

Implications for Depp’s Career

From Edward Scissorhands to Nosferatu’s Ellen

Ellen Hutter laughing in Nosferatu — Image via Focus Features

In her new role as Ellen Hutter in Nosferatu, Lily-Rose connects her early experiences with Edward Scissorhands to her character’s narrative. In her conversation, she acknowledges her deep-seated interest in dark thematic films, a curiosity shared with her father, despite their differences in acting styles. She explains that the complexity of such roles adds depth, making her portrayal of Ellen both intriguing and multifaceted.

In Eggers’ rendition of the classic vampire tale, Ellen’s desire inadvertently calls forth the ancient Nosferatu, leading to a series of tragic events in her home. While Edward Scissorhands may present a different mood, the empathy motivated by both characters highlights profound insights shared by their portrayers, revealing why Depp sees parallels between them.

For more details on this topic, check the source here: Harper’s Bazaar.

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