Inside The Beguiling Farm House Johnny Depp Purchased For His Mom After She Was Raised In A 'Holler'

Sep 20, 2023

Johnny Depp is an iconic actor who has had his fair share of ups and downs in the public eye. The actor’s positive and negative moments are a major highlight of his life as a successful actor. However, Depp is widely loved for the expert delivery of his film roles.  

Beyond his humble beginnings, Depp gained fame and fortune through blockbuster movies and some of his franchise roles. Right from the start, Depp set himself apart with his first feature film, "A Nightmare on Elm Street," in 1984. He then gained prominence as a teen star on the 1987 TV series, “21 Jump Street.”   

As the star actor gathered momentum in the industry, so did his wealth grow. By the 2000s, Depp had made enough money to turn his family’s fortune around. In 2005, the actor made headlines after he purchased a stately horse farm for his mother, Betty Sue, in Kentucky. Betty Sue’s life experienced a turnaround from her humble background and struggles as a mother.  

Depp’s career trajectory continued to record success, making him one of the most commercially successful actors of the 2000s and 2010s. Guinness World Records listed the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor as the world's highest-paid actor in 2012. At the time, Depp reportedly earned $75 million per year.

Some of his most iconic roles were recorded in movies like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Fantastic Beasts” among others.

Most of Depp’s relationships have been quite public, with the most messy one being his high-profile marriage and divorce with actress Amber Heard. Growing up, Depp did not have the best relationship with his mother, Betty Sue. From several accounts given, the pair had a complicated mother-son rapport.    

Back when he was just a teenager, Depp had dreams of becoming a rockstar. He initially dropped out of high school to pursue a career in the music industry, but his band ended up breaking up. However, Depp is now in a band called the Hollywood Vampires alongside Alice Cooper and Joe Perry.

Before he became the legend he is today, though, Depp had to start out somewhere, and he actually changed directions from music to acting. His then-wife Lori Alliston introduced him to fellow actor Nicolas Cage, and the rest is history. The two men quickly established a great friendship, and Cage encouraged Depp to really consider pursuing a career in acting.

Soon enough, Depp was going out for auditions and successfully landed the part of the main character’s boyfriend in the Wes Craven 1984 classic horror film “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Even though Depp hadn’t had acting experience, he continued to impress casting agents and directors and landed more and more roles. By the end of the 1980s, Depp was a certified teen idol, thanks in part to his role in the TV series “21 Jump Street.”

However, being a teen sensation wasn’t exactly the lifestyle Depp expected to live, so he began pursuing roles that he found more interesting. His resume quickly became more eclectic with each passing film as the established star began working with Tim Burton. Many of their films together went on to find great success and are still considered cult classics to this day.

In 1990, Depp played the title character in the Burton dark fantasy film “Edward Scissorhands.”

In 2003, the actor starred as Captain Jack Sparrow in the adventure film “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The film was an instant hit with fans and critics alike, doing extremely well at the box office and at award shows. It’s not surprising that the movie spawned a successful film franchise.

However, Depp faced some career setbacks in the late 2010s and early 2020s. He appeared in both “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” and “Murder on the Orient Express” in 2017. The following year, he portrayed the role of Grindelwald in “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” which was the sequel to the 2016 film “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.”

Afterward, though, Depp didn’t act in many major films, and it was unclear which direction his career was headed in. However, back in January 2022, Variety reported that Depp was scheduled to star as French King Louis XV, “Louis the Beloved,” in the 2023 film titled “Jeanne du Barry.” The movie began filming in the summer of 2022 across different landmarks in France, including the Versailles Palace. Some of the notable stars in the film include Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud, India Hair and more.

The summer of 2022 was busy for Depp. Aside from starting his work in the French period film, he also reunited with his band, the Hollywood Vampires. On June 22, 2022, the Hollywood Vampires announced their embarkment on tour across Germany and Luxembourg. They toured later that month.

Also, in June 2022, Billboard reported that Depp and Jeff Beck released a cover of the Beach Boys’ song “Caroline, No.” It was featured on their cover album, “18,” which was released in mid-July 2022, about half a year prior to Beck’s passing.

Many celebrities avoid exposure in public and prefer to stay out of sight whenever possible. They are seen on screen or in performance venues regularly, but we rarely get a glimpse into their personal lives. Depp is typically a prime example of this.

However, in 2023, Depp made a surprise visit to an antique shop in the English countryside that ended up in the press. According to the BBC, Depp arrived ​​at Hemswell Antiques Centre in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, in a helicopter on March 4, 2023. The owner of the store, Rob Miller, was only told that a special guest would arrive at their store but kept quiet to his staff about who the secret guest was. 

Among the items that Depp picked up from the antique store were vintage vases and guitars. Miller also said that he overheard Depp talking about Beck to one of his colleagues at the store. 

Well, now we know where all of the items Depp bought are headed – to his countryside manor in Somerset, where the actor has spent much of his time.

In a feature in the April 2023 edition of Somerset Life, Depp opened up about his love of the English countryside.

"Somerset is famous all over the world," the actor said. "I think it is a really nice part of Britain and that is why I have spent a lot of time here."

Depp bought his £13 million (approximately $15.9 million) estate back in 2014, according to the Evening Standard. A three-and-a-half hour ride from London by car, the property has 12 bedrooms and eight bathrooms and is set on 850 acres. Beyond the manor house, it includes farmland, a dairy farm and walled gardens. It felt like a fitting home to Depp.

"I just love places with character. I have various houses in various places and they all mean something special to me. I don't have them just to say I own them, I have them for use and because they are a bit special," Depp told Somerset Life.

Somerset is also where the iconic Glastonbury Festival is held each year, which Depp performed at in 2017. The star added "one of the many things" he loves about Britain is "everywhere you go there is history and buildings with great character." Another of Depp's favorite things about the area? The people and their "cool" demeanor:

"British people are cool and will greet you as if you are a neighbor without going over the top. ... I don't mind if people want an autograph or a brief chat but not when I am having some private time with my family."

He added:

"I can go into shops without being surrounded by people wanting selfies. I don't mind that up to a point, but sometimes it gets a little too crowded."

Depp also cited the British sense of humor as "legendary." The actor also opened up about not being "the great extrovert that people think."

He went on to explain:

"I am an actor and try to give people what they expect but in truth I am quite a shy person and I like to wander around places and just enjoy being. That is one of the great things about Britain, and especially Somerset. I can just be me — and that's nice.”

It’s understandable why Depp would want to have a safe recluse. Besides his popularity in the movie industry, Depp is famous for his personal relationships and a legal battle that set his career back. The actor has been married twice and was romantically linked to Sherilyn Fenn, Winona Ryder, Kate Moss, and Vanessa Paradis, with whom he shares a daughter Lily-Rose. 

Depp’s first marriage was to makeup artist Lori Anne Allison in 1983. The former couple was married for two years until 1985, when they separated and eventually divorced, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the end of their marriage. After the marriage, Depp was involved in several high-profile relationships, but it wasn’t until 2015 that he took the path of marriage for the second time. 

On February 3, 2015, Depp and Amber Heard tied the knot in a civil marriage ceremony, and the former couple remained married until May 2016, when Heard filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order against the order. Heard alleged that she had suffered years of domestic abuse under the actor. 

In 2019, Depp sued Heard for defamation over a December 2018 op-ed published in The Washington Post. After his victory at the trials of the defamation case, the actor regained part of the life he had lost as a result of the allegations. In June 2023, one year after his victory at the court, the actor ditched Disney.

Amid his explosive legal battle with Heard, the actor delved into his background and the alleged abuse he experienced from his mother. The star was born in June 1963 to a civil engineer, Christopher, and a waitress, Betty Sue. The screen icon was born the last of four children.

On April 19, 2022, when Depp testified during the defamation trial against his former spouse, he divulged details of his early relationship with his mother. The star described a turbulent childhood that left him traumatized. The “Jeanne du Barry” actor noted that Betty Sue was "violent" and "cruel" during his formative years such that he “tried to stay out of the line of fire” whenever she was around him. 

The star actor noted that the “verbal abuse, the psychological abuse, was almost worse than the beatings.” He mused: “The beatings were just physical pain. The physical pain you learn to deal with. You learn to accept it. You learn to deal with it.” 

Depp narrated how his mom often hurled missiles at him and his older siblings. He relayed that she could throw “a high-heeled shoe," an "ashtray" or a “telephone.”

He shared that his dad was the exception because he "is a very kind" man. Depp described his father as a “quiet” and "shy" man who was far from “confrontational.” The “Dark Shadows'' star noted that his mother would unleash her temperament on him from time to time, but his dad never lost his cool to the point of hitting her.   

Betty Sue softened and warmed up to her children in her later life. Until she passed away, she and Depp had a close relationship. As an older woman, Betty Sue was her son's plus one to many star-studded events, including movie premieres.

The first time Depp was nominated for an Academy Award in 2004, he attended the event with Betty Sue. He also etched a tattoo of her name on his arm, symbolizing his love.

Despite all of this, Depp’s childhood pain never faded away. Betty Sue passed on in May 2016 at 81 after she battled cancer. During her funeral, Depp could not disguise his pain, such that he made harsh comments. However, he still extended grace to her in interviews. The “Rango” star told Rolling Stone in 2018 that her own challenging childhood could have conditioned her to the adult she was. He stated:

“My mom was born in a f***ing holler in eastern Kentucky, her poor f***ing a** was on phenobarbital at 12.”

He elaborated:

"My mother was raised in a shack, in the wilds of Appalachia, where the toilet was an outhouse."

The sordid story changed when Depp purchased a remarkable farmhouse for Betty Sue in 2005 at a whopping $2 million. He renamed the lush property after her to show reverence. Depp initially bought the landscaped home in 1995 for $950,000. However, he sold it in 2001, only to repurchase it in 2005. The 6635-square-foot property has a flowing layout, rich greenery and a brick-style home. 

The open plan of the stately abode features living and dining rooms, with an extension to the spacious and well-equipped kitchen. The living area houses some of Depp’s memorabilia decked on the walls. The ranch-style home features six bedrooms and seven bathrooms.  

Toward the outdoor plan, the Versailles Road property has a guest house, a manager's quarters, two horse barns and paddocks. Alongside a garden-style walkway, it is also equipped with a four-car garage. Following Betty Sue’s passing, Depp relisted the home in 2018 for $2.9 million. It later went off the market in the same year.

Isn’t it lovely that Johnny Depp and his mom fixed their strained relationship before her demise? What are your thoughts on the grand ranch that once belonged to Betty Sue? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to other Depp fans.