The Stunning Transformation Of Jack Depp
When actor Johnny Depp was asked in an interview with Palacescope what he was most proud of, he replied without hesitation: "My children. Nothing beats that, nothing comes close." Despite the press coverage of his ongoing legal drama with ex-wife Amber Heard, the actor has always kept his personal life extremely private. His two children were largely shielded from the limelight of fame until they were adults, and, although his daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, went on to follow in her father's footsteps as an actor and model, the actor's son, Jack Depp, spends far less time in the public eye.
So, where is Jack now? As the son of one of the world's most successful and recognizable actors, the idea of Jack keeping away from the limelight may be a surprise. However, social media posts from his sister and friends, appearances at public events, and quotes from his father all prove that Jack's transformation into an independent young man has given his famous parents plenty to be proud of.
Jack Depp was born in Paris and lived a quiet, regular childhood
John Christopher Depp III, known as Jack, was born on April 9, 2002, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France (via BBC News), to French actress, singer, and model Vanessa Paradis and American actor and musician Johnny Depp, who is largely responsible for Jack's subsequent fame. After his son's birth, the actor transitioned to family-friendly films like "Finding Neverland" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." As he told the Daily Mail in 2007, "It's nice to do a film that hopefully my kids will enjoy. They are my foundation ... They make me happy."
At the time of Jack's birth, his parents had been in a relationship for around four years. Since both were already successful in their respective careers, Jack was often photographed with his famous parents as a newborn, though his early years were generally shielded from the public eye. As such, Jack was rarely photographed as a child unless he attended public events — for instance, he made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week in 2015 to support his sister, Lily-Rose, who was then a 16-year-old model beginning to make her name in the industry.
He attended school in both Paris and Los Angeles
Growing up, Jack Depp and his sister, Lily-Rose Depp, split their time and schooling between Paris and Los Angeles. Although there isn't much public information about Jack's school years, Lily-Rose is known to have attended the exclusive Oakwood High School in California. And, since she has confirmed that she and her brother went to the same school, we can safely infer that Jack did as well.
Due to his American father and French mother, Jack is bilingual. Lily-Rose spoke to Keira Knightley (former co-star of Johnny Depp, with whom he was rumored to have romanced) for an interview with Interview Magazine about her and Jack's ability to speak French. "When my brother and I were at the same school, whenever we wanted to say something that was going to stay just between us, we could say it in French and nobody would understand," she said.
His parents split when he was 10
After months of speculation, Jack Depp's parents, Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, announced their separation on June 19, 2012, after nearly 14 years together. "Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis have amicably separated. Please respect their privacy and, more importantly, the privacy of their children," the actor's publicist confirmed in a statement.
The pair was never married, but the long-term nature of their relationship and their celebrity status made the split big news in the media. "The last couple years have been a bit bumpy," Johnny told Rolling Stone. "At times, certainly unpleasant, but that's the nature of breakups, I guess, especially when there are kiddies involved." Specifically speaking to how son Jack and daughter Lily-Rose Depp were handling their parents' split, he added, "They've been incredibly understanding, incredibly strong throughout the whole ordeal. And ... the thing is, kiddies come first. You can't shield them, because then you'd be lying. So you can at least be honest with your kids."
In 2016, Vanessa defended Johnny when Amber Heard, whom the actor married in 2015 (per StyleCaster), leveled allegations of domestic violence against him. Vanessa stated that the claims against the father of her children were "outrageous" and that Johnny is "a sensitive, loving and loved person."
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
Jack Depp is multitalented
In 2014, Johnny Depp spoke to the Inquirer about his son, Jack Depp's interests as a teenager, saying, "He draws really super-well. He also plays music very well. He's got a good feel for that. Aside from school plays and things, he hasn't shown any desire to become an actor. Whew!"
Despite his father's insistence that Jack had no interest in acting, Jack did make a small appearance in the 2016 comedy horror film "Yoga Hosers" alongside his family members. The film, which stars Jack's sister, Lily-Rose Depp, follows the story of two teenage yoga enthusiasts who must battle an evil presence to save their major party plans. Directed by Kevin Smith, "Yoga Hosers" was, unfortunately, a commercial flop, panned by critics and audiences alike. Jack has not been involved in any formal acting productions since the film, and, with his father confirming that his interests lie elsewhere, it's unlikely we will see him on the big screen again soon — but you never know!
One thing Johnny didn't think Jack would have a natural gift for is driving. In a 2015 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, the actor joked about why he wouldn't teach his son to drive, saying, "He has my instincts, my boy, and he's crashed about five golf carts." Here's hoping Jack improved a little before he got on the road!
He reportedly dealt with health concerns
In 2018, Vanessa Paradis missed the opening of her film, "A Knife in the Heart," to be with son Jack Depp, who was reportedly suffering from health concerns, as the film's director, Yann Gonzalez, announced at the screening.
Although the nature of Jack's health problems were not publicly disclosed, this was not the first time his parents had coped with the incredible stress of an unwell child. His sister, Lily-Rose Depp, was hospitalized in 2007 after contracting an E. coli infection, which led to kidney failure when she was 7. Her father later spoke of the terrifying experience in an acceptance speech for an award he received for his efforts supporting cancer patients. "I lived in the [London] hospital for three weeks with my girl and my kid, not knowing if she was going to make it or not," he said (via People).
After the film's opening, the family did not choose to address Jack's reported health concerns directly, though People later reported that, according to a source, Jack was "fine and [didn't] have a health issue."
Johnny Depp's son is all grown up
Without public social media accounts, it is rare to see a photo of Jack Depp online. However, a fan account on Instagram uploaded some photos reportedly taken in 2019, with Jack bearing a striking resemblance to his famous father, Johnny Depp. Fans were given another glimpse of Jack in April 2020, when his sister, Lily-Rose Depp, posted a photo on Instagram to celebrate his 18th birthday. "My little baby Jackie is 18," she captioned the photo. "My baby bro my heart and soul happy birthday I love you SO MUCH!"
A couple of years later, in 2021, Jack was photographed again out in Paris, drinking a beer while reading a book in the sun (per Hollywood Life). While he was only 19 at the time, the legal drinking age, without an adult present, is just 18 years old in France. Jack appeared very comfortable, dressed casually and reading a book, surrounded by people in the bustling French city.
Jack does not seem to have been photographed out in public since May 2021 — presumably, he is enjoying his privacy as he carves out a life away from his parents' fame.
Jack Depp has had more than one girlfriend so far
Sharing his father's looks certainly doesn't seem to have done Jack Depp any harm, as he has been pictured out with a few romantic partners over the years. From stealing kisses on the beach in 2018 when he was just 16, to strolls with his current girlfriend (as of this writing), Depp has been seen out on dates in both the U.S. and France.
Depp was last linked to French model and singer Camille Jansen. While it is not publicly known when the pair met, they were pictured holding hands in the U.K. in August 2020. This was four months after Jansen posted on Instagram to celebrate Depp's 18th birthday, captioning the pic, "Happy birthday my love," receiving an array of comments supporting the couple's relationship.
Depp and Jansen were also pictured out and about in July 2020 (per the Daily Mail) with his mother, Vanessa Paradis, so they are clearly serious enough about each other to meet the parents! The couple has not been photographed together since late 2020, but there are also no reports that they have split — yet, another mystery!
Johnny Depp spoke about how the allegations against him have affected his son
In keeping with his general avoidance of media attention, Jack Depp has not made any public statements regarding his father's ongoing legal battle with Amber Heard. In case you missed it, Johnny Depp is suing Amber for libel over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Post, in which she discusses her experiences with domestic abuse. The famous actor denies ever being abusive to his ex-wife and is seeking $50 million in damages.
In 2018, Johnny spoke to GQ about the allegations and the effect they had on his son: "I'm sure it wasn't easy for my 14-year-old boy to go to school," he said, adding, "Why did he have to go through that?" Throughout the trial, during his testimony (via Deadline), Johnny has mentioned the effect of the allegations on his children, saying, "It was my responsibility to not only clear my name... I wanted to clear my children of this horrid thing they had to read about their father, that was untrue."
The trial is still ongoing, and, with Jack's tendency to avoid media attention, it's unlikely he will make a direct statement regarding the lawsuit.