After Moving to Los Angeles with his band at age 20, Depp's then-wife, Lori Ann Allison, introduced him to Nicolas Cage. The pair became regular drinking buddies and Cage slowly encouraged Depp to pursue acting, helping him land the role as the main character's boyfriend in A Nightmare on Elm Street (Craven, 1984).

Depp became widely known through 21 Jump Street (1987-1991). He established himself as a 'teen heartthrob' through his role as Officer Tom Hansen, an image reinforced by magazines and fan culture.

Depp made effort to actively reject his fame as a 'pretty boy' by taking roles that didn't highlight his looks. This was the first layer of Depp's image as an anti-commerical, "authentic" figure resisting Hollywood.

Starring alongside Winona Ryder, Depp's performance as Edward Scissorhands solidified his position as an eccentric outsider. His character embodied themes of vulnerability and alienation, altering traditional masculinity.

Burton-Depp collaborations became 'a brand of their own' which only reinforced Depp's difference in an industry dominated by action heroes such as Tom Cruise. During the 1990s, Depp reflected the "bohemian artist" archetype which aligned him more with European film traditions rather than American ones.

In 1994, during a fight with his girlfriend Kate Moss, Johnny was arrested for trashing a hotel room, after which he was ordered to pay $10k in damages, and charges were dropped. This was one of the first instances of Depp's violent nature that the public was exposed to. In 1999, he was arrested for assaulting paparazzi after luring a photographer into the back of a restaurant and striking him with a wooden board. During this time, the public also began to learn of Depp's drinking and drug habits.

Depp's star image reached new heights with his performance of Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Disney executives initially feared Depp's flamboyant and humorous acting, but embraced it greatly when Sparrow became a global phenomenon.

Alongside his film roles, Depp developed a media persona that showcased his seriousness towards his art, and contempt towards Hollywood. He previously described acting as "playing dress-up" rather than a career; he tends to align himself with musicians and writers and his collaborations with rock icons, including his band Hollywood Vampires, reinforces his countercultural affiliation.

Depp has described in interviews that he began using drugs as a teenager as an escape from his turbulent family life. This substance abuse continued into his career and heavily contributed to his image as a nonconformist figure. He has admitted to using drugs and alcohol to "numb" emotional pain, and also to previous addictions but denied being violent or out of control due to them.

Since 2015, Depp has been the face of Sauvage after they launched their first men's fragrance. His association with the luxury brand emphasised their desire to move away from traditional polished masculinity toward a more unconventional rugged ideal. This relationship contributed heavily to Depp's "authentic outsider" star image. He was a musician and artist alongside an actor, distinguishing him from other actors and positioning Sauvage as a lifetime symbol rather than just a product.

In 2020, Depp sued The Sun newspaper for calling him a "wife beater". He lost the case after the High Court in London ruled against Depp after concluding that the claims were "substantially true"; the judge ruled that "12 of the 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence had occured". Following this ruling, Depp resigned, at Warner Bros request, from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

This Netflix series shows both testimonies side-by-side, exploring the trial that 'set Hollywood ablaze' and the online fallout that followed. It told the story among the age of social media and begged the question: 'Can a jury ever be truly fair in the age of social media?'

After Depp married Amber Heard in 2015, she filed for divorce a year later, accusing him of domestic abuse. Claiming that Depp both physically and emotionally abused her during the relationship, she obtained a temporary restraining order. After denying the allegations and alleging Heard was the abuser, their divorce was finalised in 2017 when they released a joint statement which read "there was never any intent of physical and emotional harm".

Depp often speaks in interviews about how he feels he is misunderstood as an artist by the public. Many critics view his behaviour as self-indulgent and disconnected from accountability. Despite this, he retains a large loyal fanbase that also view him as a victim of media bias.

After winning the U.S defamation case, Depp began rebuilding his career. He starred in Jeanne de Barry, marking his return to acting. He also renewed his long-term Dior Sauvage contract which was reportedly worth over $20 million.

Dior released an ad featuring Depp alongside Native American imagery which received backlash by critics who accused Depp of cultural appropriation. Dior swiftly removed the ad but Depp defended it, explaining that it was a tribute rather than exploitation.

3 decades after his last appearance, Depp returned to PFW explaining that France has held a special place in his heart since he moved there with his ex Vanessa Paradis to raise their children.

Upcoming action-thriller starring Depp playing a "mysterious day drinker" on a private yacht. This will be Depp's first major Hollywood film since his legal controversies; working with Lionsgate suggests he is being warmly welcomed back into mainstream cinema.