Johnny Depp Was in 'Fog' until Falling for Vanessa Paradis Their Child Lily-Rose Became His 'Rea

Publish date: 2024-05-02

Hollywood A-lister Johnny Depp met the woman who changed his life forever, Vanessa Paradis. After having her and their first child in his life, he made significant sacrifices for them to stay together, but things later took an unexpected turn.

French singer Vanessa Paradis transformed actor Johnny Depp's life for the better. He met the actress in France while filming a movie called "The Ninth Gate" in 1998.

Depp recalled the moment he first set eyes on Paradis during an interview with the Daily Mail in October 2011 and vividly explained what she was wearing on that day.

Actress Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp at the The Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California. / Source: Getty Images

"It was the Hotel Costes." She was wearing a dress with an exposed back, and I saw that back and that neck, and then she turned around, and I saw those eyes, and boom! My life as a single man was done," he revealed.

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" star divulged that he had an indescribable feeling in that instance and that when he saw her across a room, he asked himself: "What is happening to me?"

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis during "Pirates of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" Paris premiere at Gaumont Marignan Theater in Paris, France. / Source: Getty Images

The woman in question was Paradis, a friend of a friend Depp had arranged to meet for a drink. Before the pair crossed paths, he was a troubled soul and had a bad-boy image, including substance addiction.

Paradis insisted that he clean up his act, cut down on drinking and smoking, eat healthily and exercise. Depp later admitted that before she came into his life, there was nothing important in his life:

"I lived in a fog for 35 years. There was nothing important in my life. Then I fell in love with Vanessa."

HOW DAUGHTER LILY-ROSE CHANGED HER DAD'S LIFE

Producer Johnny Depp taking his child out on a picnic at a London Park. / Source: Getty Images

The duo started dating the same year they met and even lived together. Soon, the news made headlines that Paradis was pregnant with the couple's first child together and that she was elated, including her family.

She and Depp welcomed their bundle of joy, daughter Lily-Rose in May 1992. Once again, the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" star's life drastically changed for the good.

The award-winning star became a different man, a family man, having settled in Paris with his family of three in southern France. Depp said he could do whatever he wanted instead of conforming to showbiz norms:

"I hate playing the Hollywood game, so I live where I like and do what I like."

Lilly-Rose was almost two years old then, and the first-time dad mentioned that he wanted to raise his child away from the US because of the constant violence.

He did not want her to grow up experiencing the mass shootings in schools caused by peers. That sort of mentality was less expected from Depp.

He once revealed that meeting his daughter for the first time was the best moment he had ever had in his life, adding everything began to make sense:

"She became my reason to wake up in the morning and my reason to live."

Johnny Depp pictured with his daughter Lily-Rose on a picnic at a London Park. / Source: Getty Images

The "Rango" star also shared his desire to have more children with Paradis, stating he would want 100 more of them if she were willing.

Depp, a Golden Globe Award winner, and the supermodel, soon welcomed their second child, a son named Jack, in April 2002.

LILY-ROSE BECAME HOSPITALIZED

Johnny Depp, Jack Depp and Lily-Rose Melody Depp pictured arriving at Narita International Airport on July 16, 2013 in Narita, Japan. / Source: Getty Images

In 2007, Us magazine reported that Depp and Paradis' daughter, then seven years old, was hospitalized for nine days. She had an E. Coli infection caused by kidney failure.

Recalling back to that daunting period in their lives, Depp shared he lived in the hospital for three weeks with his then-girlfriend Paradis and their child, Lily-Rose, not knowing whether she would pull through or not.

Vanessa Paradis and her daughter Lily-Rose Depp during the "Chien" Paris premiere at Mk2 Bibliotheque on March 5, 2018 in Paris, France. / Source: Getty Images

The Bryan Times reported in November 2007 that young Lily-Rose did pull through and was healthy and well following her hospitalization.

Depp stated that every single second spent with his daughter became a mini-celebration. His firstborn fully healed, and there were no lasting effects on her recovery.

Lily-Rose Depp photographed at the "Wolf" premiere during the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival at Princess of Wales Theatre on September 17, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. / Source: Getty Images

Lily-Rose was admitted to a British hospital where she received treatment for an undisclosed ailment. Depp described the harrowing experience, saying:

"To say it was the darkest moment, that's nothing."

In addition, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported in May 2007 that they were not allowed to ask questions about Lily-Rose's condition during an interview with her father.

Johnny Depp at a press conference during the Kustendorf music & film festival, day 2 on January 14, 2010 in Belgrade, Serbia. / Source: Getty Images

Nonetheless, the family of four picked up the pieces and lived a happy life. In his interview with the Daily Mail, Depp revealed that although he did not know how everything fell into place, his family was unconventional, making the household joyful to live in:

"I see that the children are happy, healthy, and seem to be on the right path in life."

He further said that Paradis was incredibly supportive, loving, and talented in many ways. Depp stated they had been together for so long that he could not believe it because it all felt new.

THERE WERE RUMORS OF WEDDING BELLS - BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED

Johnny Depp and French singer Vanessa Paradis arriving for the 61st Golden Globe awards on January 25, 2004 in Beverly Hills, California. / Source: Getty Images

After their daughter fully recovered from her health scare, Paradis and Depp were said to walk down the aisle, per the Daily Mail in May 2007.

Following nine years together, the duo reportedly felt compelled to get hitched after weathering the storm amid their child's health battle, a source revealed.

The insider added that since Lily-Rose fell ill, they became an even closer-knit unit and had discussed marriage on and off over the years.

Lily-Rose Depp with her mother, Vanessa Paradis, during the Chanel Cruise Collection 2020 at Grand Palais on May 03, 2019 in Paris, France. / Source: Getty Images

With that said, their daughter's illness pushed the idea even more for them to wed. The wedding was supposedly set to be held in an ancient chapel in the couple's French village of Plan de la Tour.

Stabroek News reported that the said nuptials were allegedly set for April 2009 and that Depp was even spotted shopping for an engagement ring in California at the time.

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis during TNT Broadcasts 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. / Source: Getty Images

He later admitted that the only thing that held him back from marrying Paradis was her perfect last name, joking that it would be a shame if he were to ruin it, adding:

"But if she ever said, 'Hey, let's get hitched,' I would do it in a second."

Unfortunately, that never came to pass. People reported in January 2012 that the pair had not appeared together on red carpet events for more than a year, with sources revealing that it was over between them.

Their close circle disclosed that the once golden couple had split after 14 years together, which was saddening. A rep for Depp later revealed that the pair had "amicably separated."

During an interview with Rolling Stone in June 2013, Depp admitted that things between him and the mother of his kids had turned sour over the years. He acknowledged that relationships are not easy, especially with children involved.

He was constantly away, and so were they, challenging their family life balance. "It wasn't easy on her. It wasn't easy on me. It wasn't on the kids," Depp said of his breakup with his long-time love, adding they had to make the best of their situation because they would always be in each other's lives.

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