Vanessa Paradis Profoundly Changed Johnny Depp's Life & Helped Him Become Proud Father

May 30, 2022

Johnny Depp rose to fame in the late 1980s when he starred as Tom Hanson in the hit television series "21 Jump Street." Following the success of the series, Depp went on to star in several other films, most of which were independent. For decades, the teenage heartthrob enchanted audiences with his dynamic portrayal of unconventional roles, from Captain Jack Sparrow to Edward Scissorhands. Screen Rant ranked some of Depp's most memorable eccentric roles, which include his portrayal of Willie Wonka in "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory" and The Mad Hatter in "Alice In Wonderland."

Along with the "Sweeney Todd" franchise as well as the actor's diverse range of acting abilities, Depp has also entertained fans with his countless Hollywood romances. As one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood, the award-winning actor has had a slew of gorgeous women by his side.

Some of Depp's most notable A-list celebrity ex-girlfriends, fiancees, and wives include Winona Ryder, Jennifer Grey, and Kate Moss. But it was the French model, Vanessa Paradis, who captured the "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" actor's heart for 14 years. Together the couple welcomes two children, a daughter named Lilly-Rose and a son named Jack. 

Although Depp and Paradis's relationship was not always perfect, Depp credits the former model and their children for turning him into a family man and leading him away from his past irresponsible ways. 

Over the years, Depp has struggled with fame. His sudden thrust into the spotlight made the young-Depp uncomfortable in his own skin. However, his role as a father has been his most celebrated one yet according to him. 

"I never wanted to be the guy people looked at, " Depp told The Boston Globe." "I felt I could only be myself when I was alone, that I turned into some kind of novelty. The only way I could get through that time was to drink."

In order to cope with the sudden unwanted attention, the "The Rum Diar" actor began drinking heavily.

"I spent years poisoning myself," he told Rolling Stone. "I was very, very good at it. But finally I was faced with a critical decision: Do I want to continue to be a dumb-a– or do I want to not be a dumb-a–? It was best to stop. Now I look back and say," Why? Why did I do that."

In 1998, well past his party boy days, Depp traveled to France to star in "The Ninth Gate." While at the Hotel Costes in Paris, Depp met Paradis. Depp recalled the moment in an interview with Daily Mail. For him, it was "love at first sight." "She was wearing a dress with an exposed back," Depp recalled, adding, "and I saw that back and that neck, and then she turned around and I saw those eyes, and — boom."

"My life as a single man was done" he recounted. 

Depp went further to describe the feeling he had looking at Paradis. "You have this feeling — I can't really explain what it was, but I had it when I met her," he recalled. "I saw her across a room and thought: "What's happening to me."

Their whirlwind romance lasted for 14-years, and although the couple never wed, they led a quiet family life.

In an interview with Extra, Depp explained why he and Paradis never wed. 

"Marriage is really from soul to soul, heart to heart," He told the outlet. "You don't need somebody to say, okay you're married"

A year after meeting, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter they named Lilly-Ross Depp. In 2002, they welcomed their second child, a son they named John Christopher" Jack Depp III. The "Corpse Bride" actor opened up to ABCNews about how fatherhood stabilized him.

"I was sort of roaming around, wandering kind of aimlessly until that moment when my baby girl arrived," Depp explained." "and then everything became clear."

Although he enjoys acting and is thankful for his career, Depp explained that he would encourage his children to find their passion in life instead of following in his footsteps.

"Dad kind of stumbled into it and God, you know, be a writer or be a painter. Be a poet. Whatever. Do something that you can do by yourself," Depp told ABC.

But similar to her father, Lill-Rose Depp chose acting as her career choice. 

In an interview with Vogue, the famed actor praised his daughter. "Her becoming an actress was never my dream or my desire for her, but that's what she enjoys doing, and it's her passion, and it's where she ended up," he said." "And she's got the goods – she can certainly deliver."

Although Depp's relationship with Paradis ended in 2012, the actor still speaks fondly of his former love. "She's a great mother and a great woman," he told the outlet. 

"And when you've got a woman who's been good to you, who you have a couple of kids with, you don't just abandon ship. The love may change, but you keep loving her, no matter what."

What's your favorite Johnny Depp film? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family members, and fellow fans of the actor!