Johnny Depp reflects on life-changing moment that ‘instantly’ altered his career: ‘There was a great veil lifted’

See more of our coverage in your search results. Johnny Depp revealed that becoming a parent forever altered his career, and his outlook on life. “There was a great veil lifted,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” actor told “CBS Mornings” in an interview that aired Friday. “[A veil] that I had no idea had existed when my first child was born,” he added, referencing the birth of daughter Lily-Rose Depp — whom he shares with ex Vanessa Paradis — in 1999. Johnny Depp, seen in October in Paris, said the births of his children changed his life and career. Getty Images The “Ebenezer” actor, who also shares son Jack with Paradis, said the arrival of his children opened his eyes to “exactly what everything had been for.” The “Edward Scissorhands” star said there were “years” where he wondered, “Why am I doing these movies?” He speculated that perhaps it had been for money or some other reason. “I never knew the answer to those questions until that veil was lifted, and instantly I knew,” he explained. “This is why you’ve made every single move in your life. This is what it’s all about.” “There was a great veil lifted,” Depp, seen in 2024, told “CBS Mornings.” Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival Depp noted, “Even if you’re not particularly, like, [a] self-obsessed person, it is the first real, selfless moment that one could have, when your child arrives, there’s nothing else in the world that exists.” The actor confirmed that he had “held on to that purpose” now that his children are grown, saying, “Oh, for sure.” Depp has previously spoken out about life after raising Lily-Rose, now 27, and Jack, 24. “Years get away from us, don’t they?” he told the Sunday Times in June 2025, adding, “I’m of the empty-nest syndrome.” “This is why you’ve made every single move in your life. This is what it’s all about,” Depp said. He’s seen above with children Lily-Rose and Jack Depp in 2013. WireImage “I never knew the answer to those questions until that veil was lifted,” Depp — seen here as Ebenezer Scrooge in July — said. Getty Images for Paramount Pictures Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! When asked by the outlet if he missed having his children at home, he said, “Oh man, my kids growing up in the south of France in their youth? I was Papa.” He gushed, “I cannot tell you how much I loved being Papa.” Depp, now 63, said once the family moved to Los Angeles, “Suddenly, Papa was out the window.” “I was Dad,” he continued. “But Papa was awesome and I’m getting old enough for Papa to possibly come back.” Depp shares his children with ex-wife Vanessa Paradis, seen here in 2004. AFP via Getty Images Depp, pictured above in 1987, said last year he’s “of the empty-nest syndrome.” Getty Images The “Sleepy Hollow” star confessed France had truly been a “home” to him during those years. “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,” he recalled. “That’s the only place that ever felt like home.” And despite his realization about acting and parenting, Depp also told the outlet that he’d warned his children against the career choice. The actor reflected on raising his kids in the South of France during the interview. Above, Jack Depp is seen in 2015. WireImage The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star, seen above in 2025, also warned his children against acting. Getty Images for Dior “Sometimes kids say to me, ‘I want to be an actor, what’s your advice?’ And I say, “Don’t be!'” he told the Sunday Times last year. “I was chucked on that road and the only advice that I can give is, ‘Don’t allow anyone to make you something you are not.'” He continued, “They’ll want you to be a poster boy and it’s tempting – a lot of money. And if that’s the direction you want? Go for it. But don’t let anybody choose for you.” Community Guidelines Welcome to the Page Six Community! Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space. In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience. Simply put, keep it civil. 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