Even when he was unable to get a good break as a rock star, Johnny was lucky to get a lead role as Officer Tom Hanson in the television series 21, Jump Street. The show was popular and Depp became a teen idol for his charming and boyish persona in the series. Although he became very popular, he was not satisfied with his work. He thought he was being used by the industry and thought that the role had become very superficial, only meant to please audiences. From then, he decided to accept only meaningful roles that had depth and quality. After The Nightmare On Elm Street, Johnny was offered a role of a Vietnamese-speaking private in the movie Platoon. Although a minor role, people did notice him. His major breakthrough came when he acted in the movie Edward Scissorhands. People praised his acting skills and the movie also saw the start of a great partnership between Depp and the film's director Tim Burton. Depp further collaborated with Burton in the following movies:

• Ed Wood
• Sleepy Hollow
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
• Alice in Wonderland
• Dark Shadows

Depp received critical acclaim in all the above movies and critics and movie industry pundits attribute the successful pairing to the similarity in thinking between Burton and Depp. Burton is a director who is not afraid to make offbeat movies and Depp is famous for his non-conventional acting skills. This makes the pair a match made in movie-heaven, and the movies a delight for the movie goers. After Edward Scissorhands, Depp was recognized as a versatile actor, but was still away from the total limelight of stardom. He achieved this after his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl. Although studio producers were a bit apprehensive with the eccentric acting Depp did, he gained almost universal acclaim. This role also gave him his first Academy Award nomination. It was after this that he became a bankable star, a star on whom studios could never lose money. He has also come to be known for his dynamic changes in physical appearance for the different roles he played. Not just that, Depp models every role differently, using real-life personalities, giving every character a unique appeal. This is what makes him a very special actor. Depp is also known for his signature deep and whispering voice. This has been used to good effect in the animated movie Rango. He has also lent his voice for many cartoon segments like Spongebob Squarepants and Family Guy. He has acted in 20 odd movies since Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl, with many big projects still in the pipeline. The fans are desperately waiting for the movie Transcendence, which releases in April this year. It will be interesting to see how Johnny portrays the role of an artificial intelligence researcher, despite his credentials of excellent acting. Also eagerly anticipated are the movies Alice In Wonderland Part 2, where he reprises his role as the Mad Hatter and Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Men Tell no Tales, where he returns as the universally loved, Captain Jack Sparrow. Depp owns a production company named Infinitum Nihil, of which he is the CEO. He, with his sister Christi Dembrowski, have produced movies such as The Rum Diary, Dark Shadows, and the multiple Oscar winner, Hugo. Depp was married to Lori Anne Allison from 1983 to 1985. He was then engaged to actresses Jennifer Grey and Sherilyn Fenn in the late 1980s before finally proposing to Winona Ryder in 1990. He met her on the sets of the movie Sleepy Hollow. They split in 1998. He had an affair with supermodel Kate Moss that lasted for four years after that. In 2002, Depp met Vanessa Paradis, with whom he had a real connect. Although he did not marry her, he did have two children with her. He claims that all life was meaningless before them, and that his life's purpose was clear only after they were born. Depp is an atheist, but says that he has faith in his children, and loves them dearly. Depp split with Paradis in 2012. He has since then been engaged to actress Amber Heard. He formally announced the engagement in July 2013. Johnny is also known for his tattoos and sharp wit. Every one of his 13 tattoos holds significance and is dedicated to the important people in his life. He is known to be one of the smartest people in the entertainment business. He always speaks his mind, and sometimes also ruffles feathers of important people, but it is a luxury he can afford and is well-earned.