Johnny Depp, the enigmatic Hollywood icon known for his roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and Edward Scissorhands, has long been a figure of fascination both on and off the screen. With a career spanning over four decades, Depp has navigated the highs of stardom and the lows of personal turmoil, including his highly publicized defamation trial against Amber Heard. Yet, amid the glitz and drama, one of the most poignant aspects of his life remains his role as a father to his two children, Lily-Rose Depp and Jack Depp, whom he shares with former partner Vanessa Paradis. In a rare and introspective interview with The Sunday Times on June 22, 2025, Depp opened up about the challenges of watching his daughter Lily-Rose grow up in the unforgiving world of Hollywood—a journey that has tested his protective instincts and reshaped his perspective on fame.

Early Years and Family Life

Lily-Rose Depp, born on May 27, 1999, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, is now a 26-year-old actress and model carving her own path in the entertainment industry. Raised primarily in the south of France with her younger brother Jack, Lily-Rose’s early years were shielded from the relentless scrutiny of Hollywood. Depp and Paradis, who were together from 1998 to 2012, deliberately chose a quieter life away from Los Angeles, believing it would offer their children a semblance of normalcy. In a 2007 interview with Belgium’s Weekend Knack magazine, Paradis explained, “For my children, I secretly choose France. Even though Los Angeles is great too… in the south of France you can live much more anonymously. And that’s a bliss, especially when the children are still young.” This decision reflected a shared commitment to protect their kids from the pressures that had shaped Depp’s own career.

Lily-Rose’s Entry into Hollywood

However, as Lily-Rose entered her teenage years, her trajectory began to shift toward the spotlight. Her acting debut came in 2014 with a minor role in Tusk, followed by a modeling contract with Chanel at age 15, orchestrated by the late Karl Lagerfeld. These early successes marked the beginning of her transition into Hollywood, a move that Depp initially resisted. In a 2015 interview with the Daily Mail, he admitted, “Her becoming an actress was never my dream or my desire for her, but that’s what she enjoys doing.” Despite his reservations, he acknowledged her talent, saying, “She’s got the goods—she can certainly deliver.” Yet, this pride was tempered by the hardest part of watching her grow up in the industry: the loss of her innocence and the constant threat of public judgment.

The Hardest Part: Loss of Innocence

In his recent Sunday Times interview, Depp reflected on this struggle, stating, “Oh man, my kids growing up in the south of France in their youth?” when asked what he missed most about having them around. He elaborated, “Truly, the first time I felt I had a home was the place in the south of France where Vanessa and I raised the kiddies.” This nostalgia underscores a central difficulty: witnessing Lily-Rose’s transition from the sheltered life they crafted to the harsh realities of Hollywood. The actor described the shift from being “Papa”—a term of endearment from her childhood—to “Dad,” noting, “Then, suddenly, Papa was out the window. I was Dad.” This evolution symbolized not just her growing independence but also the erosion of the protective bubble he and Paradis had built.

Public Scrutiny and the “Nepo Baby” Label

One of the most challenging aspects for Depp has been the public’s scrutiny of Lily-Rose’s career, often framed by her status as a “nepo baby”—a term used to describe individuals who benefit from their famous parents’ connections. Lily-Rose has addressed this label head-on, telling Vanity Fair in November 2024, “I feel like people have been ready to see me fail, in a way, since I was a kid. That has made me only want to work harder and prove people wrong.” For Depp, seeing his daughter face this criticism has been painful, especially given his own experiences with media misrepresentation during his legal battles. The 2022 defamation trial against Heard, where he sought to clear his name for his children’s sake, highlighted his protective nature. He told the jury, “I felt it my responsibility to stand up not only for myself in that instance but stand up for my children.”

Early Challenges and Protective Instincts

Lily-Rose’s early brush with fame brought additional challenges. In 2007, at age seven, she nearly died from an E. coli infection that led to acute kidney failure, an ordeal that Depp called the “darkest period of his life.” He halted filming for Sweeney Todd to stay by her side in a London hospital, later donating $2 million to Great Ormond Street Hospital in gratitude. This incident deepened his resolve to shield her, a resolve tested as she entered Hollywood. Her roles in films like Yoga Hosers (2016), which Depp later regretted involving her in, and The Idol (2023), exposed her to both praise and criticism. The latter series, co-starring The Weeknd, drew controversy for its provocative content, yet Lily-Rose’s performance earned a five-minute standing ovation at Cannes in 2023—a moment she described to ET as “a beautiful celebration.”

Loss of Anonymity

Depp’s discomfort with her Hollywood ascent is also tied to the loss of her childhood anonymity. In a 2023 interview with i-D, Lily-Rose noted, “My parents did the best job that they possibly could at giving me the most ‘normal childhood’ that they could… but it’s a very particular thing to deal with.” For Depp, watching her navigate paparazzi attention and public relationships—such as her past romance with Timothée Chalamet—has been a stark reminder of his own past, including his high-profile split from Paradis when Lily-Rose was 13. He told the Daily Mail in 2015, “No matter how grown-up she gets, I’ll never stop worrying about her. It’s a father-daughter thing.” This worry intensified as she defended him during the Heard trial, posting a 2016 Instagram message calling him “the sweetest, most loving person I know,” only to later distance herself, telling ELLE in 2022, “I’m not here to answer for anybody.”

Career Success and Bittersweet Pride

The contrast between Lily-Rose’s early life and her current career has also shaped Depp’s perspective. Growing up, she and Jack spoke French at home and maintained a private bond, as she revealed in Interview magazine, noting they used the language to communicate secretly at school. This intimacy was disrupted as Hollywood demanded more of her, a shift Depp found hard to accept. Her recent success in Nosferatu (2024), where she starred as Ellen Hutter opposite Bill Skarsgård, has been a high point, with The Hollywood Reporter calling her performance “a revelation.” Yet, for Depp, it’s a bittersweet achievement, as it marks her full immersion into an industry he once sought to protect her from.

Depp’s Own Journey and Legacy

Depp’s own career struggles have amplified this difficulty. After the Heard trial, where he won a partial victory but faced backlash, he retreated from Hollywood, returning with Jeanne du Barry at Cannes in 2023. Watching Lily-Rose thrive while he navigated his own redemption has been a complex emotional journey. He told Joblo in 2025, “I didn’t go anywhere. If I actually had the chance to split, I would never come back,” suggesting a desire to redefine his path—perhaps to align with the legacy he wants for his daughter. Her resilience, despite the “nepo baby” label, mirrors his own, yet he struggles with the idea that her success comes at the cost of the childhood he cherished.

Conclusion

Lily-Rose’s reflections on her upbringing offer insight into Depp’s challenge. In a 2025 Harper’s Bazaar interview, she admitted being “traumatized” by Edward Scissorhands as a child, not because of Depp’s character but because “everyone was being so mean to him.” This empathy for misunderstood figures resonates with her roles and hints at the emotional depth she inherited from her father—a depth he now sees tested by Hollywood’s harsh lens. For Depp, the hardest part is not her success but the inevitability of her exposure to the same scrutiny that has defined his life, a reality he can no longer shield her from as she steps into her own light.