A Magical On-set Moment in Johnny Depp’s Films That Inspired ‘Nosferatu’ Star Lily-Rose Depp to Become an Actor

Daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose Depp is slowly setting her foot in the industry by taking on major roles that would help her to finesse her craft along with bringing success. She has appeared in movies including Tusk, The King, The Dancer, and A Faithful Man. Her appearance in The Idol brought her worldwide recognition, despite the show being shredded to pieces.

The actress recently appeared in the gothic horror movie Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers, and stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and more. The movie has received a positive response from the critics as well as the audience, along with Rose-Depp’s performance being praised. The young actress goes on to reveal how and when she decided to become an actor.

Lily-Rose Depp recalls growing up on the sets of Johnny Depp’s movies

Actress Lily-Rose Depp portrays the character of Ellen Hutter in Robert Eggers’ recent release, Nosferatu. She has been highly praised for her work in the movie, which is a remake of the 1922 silent horror movie. During an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she revealed,

I remember hearing that movies are supposed to make you feel something. Even if all it does is make you feel totally disgusted, then it’s done its job.

Talking about the movie, she describes it as not just scary, but gross, revolting. The 25-year-old actress noted that Eggers’ Nosferatu had the most technical set she has ever been on. She said it was almost like going to film school, and it was intimidating and daunting but an incredible privilege.

When asked if fascination for the supernatural and gory genre runs in the family, Lily-Rose Depp added that ‘one can say so.’ This was asked as her father Johnny Depp had a long-standing partnership with filmmaker Tim Burton as they explored the genre by working on movies together, including Sweeney Todd, Sleepy Hollow, and more. Rose Depp added,

We’re very different actors, but of course, you’re the product of your environment, and it’s a world I’ve always been very interested in.

While speaking to Josh Horowitz, the actress was asked if she grew up on the sets of Johnny Depp’s movies, to which she replied that she did. She went on to explain that growing up on set meant that she had an awareness of the environment, before adding that movie sets were always fascinating to her, specifically when everyone had to be silent before the cameras rolled.

For some reason, I had the idea of being the person who got to speak whenever everybody had to be really quiet. I always thought deafening silence was always really cool, and I’m obsessed with the idea of world-building.

Lily-Rose Depp also mentioned that filming on practical sets in outdoor settings has fascinated her.

The actress’ cameo in Tusk, directed by Kevin Smith, was also one of the highlights of her career, and she added that that role felt like a dream come true to her, after the film, she realized that’s where she wanted to be: in movies.

Lily-Rose Depp addresses the backlash for Sam Levinson’s The Idol

The actress during her interview with Josh Horowitz also spoke about the backlash her show The Idol received. Created by Sam Levinson and Abel Tesfaye, The Idol was branded as ‘chauvinistic’, ‘shameful’ and was called ‘tasteless’.

Sam Levinson, who took over after the original director, Amy Seimetz, left, was accused of weakening the show’s overarching message by dialing up the s**ual content. However, Lily-Rose Depp did not feel the same way as she shared,

I think the thing that sucked about that was to have people talking s*it about Sam Levinson, who is a great friend of mine and somebody that I consider family.

Lily-Rose Depp added that she is super close with him and Ashley Levinson, who was the producer on the show, noting that they are wonderful people, like so incredible. She mentioned that the two of them really kind of took her under their wing in a way.

The 25-year-old actress noted that the only thing upsetting about the backlash was how people started to talk about the director negatively because the things they said about him, particularly as a filmmaker, were not true. Lily-Rose Depp added that she had not experienced what was being said, and it’s upsetting to hear people say all sorts of things that are not true.

Johnny Depp’s daughter had defended the show and her character right through its premiere and in the interview added that they knew at the time that it was going to be controversial. She mentioned that they knew that with the show they were pushing society’s buttons a bit and thus, that’s the reaction they got, but it’s okay. 

The Idol season is available to stream on HBO.