Charismatic, talented and bright actor - a real symbol of Hollywood. His on-screen personas - from Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd to the peerless Captain Jack Sparrow and the Mad Hatter - have become iconic. But what lies behind the facade of a successful and popular actor? Understand the inner world of Johnny Depp will help his tattoos. The actor has stuffed them with about 30 pieces, claiming that his body is written all of his life. The most famous and symbolic tattoos of Johnny Depp are described below.
On his right hand
Johnny Depp's tattoos on his right arm are mostly done by New York tattoo artist Jonathan Shaw, who played a small role in Clint Eastwood's The Loop.
According to the actor, a variety of drawings occupy most of his body, symbolically telling the life story of the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow, and recalling the closest people and the most important events.
Indian
The head of an Indian chief in a feathery headdress is believed to be Depp's first tattoo, which appeared on his right shoulder at the age of 17. This image - a kind of reminder of the actor about his origins and a tribute to his love for his grandmother Minnie and grandfather, who came from the Cherokee Indian tribe and had a great influence on the formation of Depp himself.
In interviews, the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow, has repeatedly stressed that the success of his career he owes more to his ancestors, who mixed in his genes blood of many nationalities, including the Irish and Germans. For the actor himself, of great importance are also his roots, leading to the Cherokee Indian tribe and the Cree ethnic group, whose traits are reflected in the actor's own appearance.
Wino forever
Johnny Depp's "Wino (drunkard) forever" tattoo appeared on the actor's right forearm in 1993, after breaking up with Winona Ryder. At the age of 26, the actor fell in love with the 17-year-old actress and made, in his own words, his "first serious relationship" in which he lived for about 5 years.
The relationship between the pair was not easy, filled with constant quarrels, alternating with a tumultuous reunion, and in one such moment, Johnny put on his right forearm the inscription "Winona forever" (Winona forever), placing it directly above the Indian head. The actor described his decision as a desire to perpetuate his love for his girlfriend, because a tattoo, unlike a wedding ring, cannot be lost.
In 1993, the actors separated, and Depp changed the tattoo, shortening the name Winona to the word "Wino" ("Wine"). According to the actor, he corrected the inscription in the New York tattoo parlor "Sunset" for $ 75 U.S. dollars.
Jack Sparrow.
To celebrate the release of the first part of the pirate movie franchise "The Curse of the Black Pearl," Depp had a tattoo on his arm of a swallow flying over the horizon in front of the setting sun. Exactly the same drawing was his character, Captain Jack Sparrow. After filming the movie, the actor decided to leave his favorite tattoo, with the only difference that the swallow was now flying in the opposite direction (to the actor himself).
When asked by reporters, Johnny said that he decided to change the direction of the bird, because he wants it to always return to him. The actor also noted that the picture on his hand is not a sparrow, which symbolizes the name and nickname of his character "Sparrow", and the swallow, which is traditionally regarded as a symbol of sailors.
At the bottom of the picture the actor placed the name "Jack," but also noted that it does not refer to the character - Captain Jack Sparrow, but his son, Jonathan Christopher Depp the Third, nicknamed Jack in the family circle.
Skull and Bones
Johnny Depp's Adam's Head tattoo, located on the inside of his right shoulder, is in the shape of a human skull with crossed tibia bones.
Considered a symbol of sea robbers, this sign in the XVII-XVIII centuries, was placed on the flags of pirate ships. It also symbolizes the fearlessness of its owner.
Brave .
Tattoo question under the round face with a stitched mouth Depp made in 1998. So the actor celebrated the release of his first film, on which he worked not only as an actor, but also as a director and screenwriter. The picture itself symbolizes the eternal silence and is directly linked to the magic of syncretic cults - voodoo, widespread in West Africa and the Caribbean.
According to Depp, he completely accidentally saw such a sign on the wall of a building in Los Angeles and became interested in it. Subsequently, the sign became for him a symbol of a human being with the instincts of an animal, which is in perpetual confusion before choosing a life path.
Three rectangles
The three rectangles are the pattern embossed on the index finger of the movie star. Unlike other signs, Tim Burton's favorite actor does not like to talk about it, because, in his own words, he can not accurately explain the meaning of the tattoo. In an effort to hide the sign from prying eyes, Depp often covers it with a massive ring.
The actor himself has repeatedly referred to this tattoo as "telephone doodles", that is, the object that one draws at the moment of a telephone conversation. Another meaning of this expression is something very important, like a phone call.
SCU(A)M.
A drawing on Johnny Depp's hand, which appeared during his relationship with his ex-wife Amber Heard. In the original meaning, embossed by the actor in 2013, the sign meant the word "SLIM", which means "skinny", and symbolized the affectionate nickname given by the actor to his future wife.
At the end of 2016, after the divorce proceedings began, the tattoo turned into "SCUM" (meaning "abomination"). After a high-profile lawsuit launched by Amber Heard alleging abuse by Depp, the movie actor overlapped the Latin letter "U" with a sign that stands for anarchy, thus getting the tattoo "SCAM," which translates from Latin as "cheating."
NO REASON
"NO REASON," a phrase tattooed on the wrist of both hands by the actor, means "no reason" and is made, according to the actor, for himself, not for fans.
The tattoo itself symbolizes the lyrics of a song sung by Merlin Manson, which, according to Depp, has left an indelible impression on his soul. Exactly the same inscription is printed on the wrist of the American rock singer.
Raven
The "raven" tattoo was carved in 2012. The drawing became a paired sign, symbolizing the unity of the actor with his friends Damien Ekhols and Billy Carter.
The latter, who is also the godfather of Depp's son, noted in an interview that the raven-shaped tattoo is a sign of brotherhood between him and his friends for the rest of his life.
Snake
The drawing in the shape of a zigzag snake is a symbol of the Pueblo Indians, signifying rain and the birth of new life, as well as a tribute to Johnny's Native American ancestors.
It appeared as a sign of his acceptance into the Comanche tribe, who lived in North America.
Hexagram
The hexagram "Taming the Force", the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow, is taken from the "Book of Changes" and means, according to the actor, his life credo, which sounds like "you should not force events, because of the danger of bringing trouble on yourself".
Follow the hexagram, Johnny, according to him, trying to constantly, moving on its own way, carefully avoiding all obstacles.
Ouroboros
The serpent biting its own tail, depicted on the actor's right forearm - a traditional symbol of infinity.
On Depp's arm, he says, the tattoo is meant to represent the endless cycle of life between birth and death.
Sunset
Sunset Sunset is another redesigned tattoo by the actor that appeared on his body after his divorce from Amber Heard.
With this drawing in 2017, Johnny overlapped the 2015 portrait of his young spouse, which previously showed his ardent love for her.
Symbolic tattoos
Brave: Brave is the first film in which Johnny Depp has been involved as director, producer and screenwriter. On his right forearm, the actor represents the the film's complete symbol.. On his lower right leg he also shows a reference to his film, this time just an interrogation ..
On the left hand
The tattoos on the actor's left arm are a testament to his love for his mother and children, as well as a symbol of his life beliefs. Giving an interview, Depp compared his tattoos to wounds and his body to the path of life. According to him, he adheres to the old nautical tradition, where each wound or drawing on a sailor's body means a certain time or event from life.
Adhering to this ideology, the actor transfers to his body everything that has a special meaning for him, and it does not matter if he does it with a knife, like a sailor, or using the services of a tattoo artist.
Betty Sue
The actor's left bicep is adorned with a drawing of Betty Sue's name. The tattoo is heart-shaped, decorated with black lines in the traditional, for the Celts, style, and is made in honor of his mother, who, according to Johnny, has become his best friend.
In interviews, the mother of the movie star has repeatedly noted that she is proud of the success of her son and is looking forward to the days when she can watch his new work with him.
Black triangle
An inverted black triangle with red lines running through it is considered, according to fans, one of the most mysterious tattoos of the actor.
Depp himself only once talked about his tattoo, noting that this symbol of womanhood, which he did in 1993, addresses the tattoo with his mother's name and represents his strong, filial love.
Silence Exile Cunning.
With the phrase "Silence, Exile, Wit," the actor captured on his left forearm a quote from James Joyce's Portrait of an Artist in Youth.
This book is Johnny Depp's favorite work.
Three
The number "3" is considered a sign for the film actor.
In 1994, he decorated the hand of his left hand with a small three, thus giving it a sacred meaning and describing it as a "mysterious, mystical number.
SALVE OGUM.
The Latin inscription appeared on the hand of a movie star in 2010 during the Hawaiian filming of 4 Pirates of the Caribbean. Ogum (Ogun) is a spirit or deity in the voodoo religion that patronizes politicians, wars and iron, and "salve" in Latin means "Long live!" or "Save."
The voodoo religion, according to the actor, resonates with the making of the picture, and the deity is empowering and attentive to ensuring that his devotee does not fight against the society he serves.
Three Hearts
Johnny Depp's tattoo on the inside of his left shoulder is in the shape of three small pink hearts.
It symbolizes his former common-law wife, Vanessa Paradis, and their children, daughter Lily-Rose and son Jack.
Rook
Rook with cards in his paws, embossed on the left forearm of the movie star - a tribute to memory and love for the actor's grandfather.
The drawing symbolizes Johnny's relatives' favorite card game, Rook.
Key-Skull
The sign in the form of a key-skull is another paired tattoo of the movie star, which he put on as a sign of friendship and unity with actor Damien Echols.
The exact same design adorns Echols' left forearm and symbolizes, according to Depp, his childhood belief that such a key can open any door and remove all obstacles.
Zigzag
The Latin sign "Z" the actor stamped on his left hand in 2012. Like the zigzag snake, he got the symbol after joining the ranks of the American Indian tribe of Comanches.
Also, this sign means, according to the actor, the rune Sun, which represents the desire for self-fulfillment and indicates the path to follow by virtue of their individuality.
The Little Guitarist
The little guitarist on the back of the actor's left shoulder is a drawing based on a sketch by his son Jonathan Christopher.
Exactly the same tattoo is carved on the body of the actor's friend and godfather of his child - Billy Carter.
Man is a giddy thing.
"Man in a suit, but without a face" is another sketch by Jonathan Christopher.
The movie actor placed it on his body along with the caption "man is a giddy thing."
JJ 13.
The movie actor got the tattoo in 2013, after the death of his friend and security guard Jerry Judge.
His initials are meant to remind Depp of the man who protected his life and health for more than 20 years.
Sailor and Girl
Symmetrical images of a sailor and his girlfriend the actor placed on the right and left hands.
Depp himself about the meaning of this tattoo is silent, but fans, who know the film star's commitment to the sea theme, believe that the drawings located on different hands are a symbol of passionate but impossible love.
Your Special Edition
Depp boasts two tattoos related to the number three. In the right hand index, he shows the design of three rectangles., and on his left arm he has tattooed the number three.. Although he stated that the latter was the result of boredom, in another interview he stated, "The number three is a special number. It's a very creative number. A triangle, a trinity ... you know, two people make up another. It's a mystical, magical number.
Also, although it's not very visible because it's on his left ankle, Depp shows a three-pointed line, which, in addition to his number, could symbolize that something follows, although there is no information about this tattoo.
On his feet.
Johnny Depp's tattoos on his legs are signs of remembrance and dedication to his best friends, as well as symbols of the movie star joining the wars of the Comanche Indian tribe.
Question Mark.
The question mark with a small dot below, which adorns the actor's right ankle, is made by his friend and author of most tattoos, Jonathan Shaw.
The tattoo artist himself has the exact same drawing, symbolizing their friendship and years of collaboration.
The gonzo symbol.
The "gonzo" symbol, which adorns the right ankle of the movie star - symbolizes the direction in journalism, in which the reporter becomes not an outside observer, but a participant in the events taking place, using a subjective style to present them.
The sign was engraved by Depp in memory of his friend, journalist Hunter Thompson, who died at the age of 67 years, with which the actor was associated long-term friendship.
Dreamcatcher
The dreamcatcher is the third symbol of the Comanche Indian tribe, placed on the actor's right ankle. In addition to referring to his roots, this sign is also considered as a talisman of Depp himself, symbolizing the path that the actor must travel in the space of dreams.
The second name of this tattoo is "Shield" and it is made on the actor's leg in a combination of 3 colors:
| The color of the tattoo | Its meaning |
| Blue | Considered in Indian culture as a symbol of purity and innocence of the heart. |
| Red | A symbol of blood, fire, strength and courage, and is also considered the color of life. |
| Black . | Expresses a person's aspirations and points out their problems. |
The tattoo was designed specifically for Johnny Depp and in addition to protective, carries a therapeutic value:
- Splitting the shield in half serpentine line - means rebirth and represents the Comanche themselves, in the past known as the snake.
- Warrior of the Comanches. Placed on a red field and decorated with 4 feathers attached to his shield, signifying 4 seasons, 4 seasons or 4 stages of life.
Death is certain
The skull and crossbones tattoo is located on the actor's right ankle next to the phrase "Death is certain" and, according to Depp, is meant to remind him to appreciate every moment of his life. Exactly the same tattoos are on the leg of Jonathan Shaw, Jim Jarmusch and Iggy Paul. The drawing, according to Depp, was done by him and his friends, at the illegal Van City Tattoo parlor, the walls of which were decorated with memorable tattoo memorabilia.
Here the actor would gather with his friends and here, too, according to Depp, one night they had the idea to make the same tattoos to cement their friendship. After going through the sketches, the young men settled on a drawing with a skull, bones and the inscription "death determined." The tattoo was an addition to the skull ring and is considered the hallmark of the members of the Death Predetermined Club.
On his chest.
Johnny Depp's chest is decorated much less than the rest of his body. Now the actor has only two significant tattoos here:
Lily-Rose .
The inscription with the name of his daughter Lily-Rose, the actor made around 1999 in honor of the birth of his first child.
The location of the drawing Depp did not choose by chance, noting that he simply adores his daughter and wanted her to always be close to his heart.
Brothers
On the right side of Johnny's chest is a circle with the word "brothers" embossed in it. The drawing was designed by the actor's friend Damien Echols. Telling about the creation of the picture, its author noted that the tattoo is not only a symbol of friendship, but also a sign that you should not focus on the difficulties, otherwise you can lose your heart and become defeated.
Johnny Depp tattoo
The drawing was made by the actor in 2012, after his friend Damien Echols was released from prison, where he spent more than 20 years by mistake.
Johnny Depp is a popular Hollywood actor known for his performance of vivid and charismatic characters. Being a descendant of Native American Indians and a fan of tattoos, the actor, every time he encountered a problem, in his own words, began to self-injure himself. All tattoos, according to Depp, are wounds that represent a particular time or life event and are transferred onto the body to represent life's journey and aspirations.
Mistakes
Johnny Depp won't know that you don't need to get tattoos with your partner's names on them. When he was with Winona Ryder, he got himself a tattoo. Winona Forever.. After their relationship broke up, that tattoo turned into Wine Forever . Or what's the same, Drunk Forever..
After that, actress Amber Heard came into her life and covered her body. Depp got a tattoo silhouette of one of the photos of the model. After their breakup. had to cover it with a black rectangle, which now shows. But not only that. The pseudonym "SLIM," which he used to call his partner, will now read "SCUM" (scumbag), as a show of contempt for the allegations of abuse that Heard brought against him.
