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Interview

Johnny Depp talks about why he thinks the lead character in his new film Sweeney Todd was "horribly misunderstood" and how he felt like "a complete ass" filming the singing scenes.

There’s a whole mythology about whether or not the character you play was based on someone real. Did you use any of that?

"I read all that stuff and there was part of me that wanted him to be a real guy. You go: ‘Yes, please let him be real, I’d really love that', but it’s not the case. Basically the character came from conversations with Tim (Burton, the director)."

How did you arrive at the way Sweeney would look?

"It was a real challenge. Tim said he needed to be iconic, and you are thinking of these strong images like Peter Lorre in Mad Love, Karloff as the monster."

How did you feel whenTim first mentioned the prospect of singing on film?

"I knew I wasn’t tone deaf because I play guitar, but I didn’t know if I was going to be able to actually sing.
"When we first talked I said, ‘Let me try. Let me investigate it and I’ll send you something and see how you feel.’ I sent him My Friends."

After the sound track had been laid down, did you sing along with yourself again when you were doing a take?

"Unfortunately, yes. I don’t know how other people do it because I’ve never done anything like this in my life before. But I felt like if I was just mouthing it the camera would see it. And also you would be faking it on some level and you wouldn’t be committed to what you were doing.
"It was mortifying at times. The poor guy who does the sticks and the focus pullers are five inches away from your head, and you are belting it out and you just feel like a complete ass. But it’s necessary…"

Sweeney Todd is a very dark character, but there’s also humour and pathos to him, isn’t there?

"He’s misunderstood! He’s actually horribly misunderstood because really he’s a very sweet guy. He’s basically been dead since his life was taken away from him all those years before. The only reason he has continued breathing is to wreak vengeance!"