So, 2006 and 2007 were mostly taken up by filming Pirates 2&3, as they were filmed back to back, even though they had not been fully scripted at the time. And if that wasn’t exhausting enough, Johnny also teamed up with his great friend Tim Burton, to make ‘Sweeny Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’. This part really put Johnny out of his comfort zone, as the film was a musical, so Johnny had to do a lot of singing. Sweeny Todd went onto win 15 Awards ranging from Best Musical, Best Costumes to Best Actor for Johnny.
Following the tragic death of Johnny’s friend Heath Ledger in 2008, leaving a film incomplete, Johnny, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, played variations of Heath’s character Tony. In memory of Heath, the three actors donated their earnings to Heath’s daughter Matilda Rose.
Next, Johnny filmed Public Enemies, a film about John Dillinger, a bank robber during the Great Depression. This film was released in 2009. Around this time rumours had begun circulating in the media, that all was not well in the Depp/Paradis household. Both Johnny and Vanessa dismissed these rumours.
2010 brought another Johnny and Tim collaboration, in Alice in Wonderland. Johnny played Tarrent Hightop, aka the Mad Hatter, which meant hours in the make up chair before starting work each day. Johnny’s Hatter gained great admiration and Johnny was praised for the role. Unfortunately Johnny’s second film of 2010 did not receive such praise. ‘The Tourist’, in which Johnny starred opposite Angelina Jolie wasn’t well liked and criticised for lack of chemistry between Johnny and Jolie. However, this film did introduce Johnny to an actor who would become a good friend, Paul Bettany.