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Johnny Depp and the Libertines: The history behind his new role
What was it about the 17th century that made it so mucky? What in heaven’s name gave rise to the Earl of Rochester and his hellish rhymes? And what were the consequences of such unbridled obscenity? As Johnny Depp dons Rochester’s peruke in Hollywood, A C Grayling reveals the world of the original libertines

Published: 06 November 2005

It is quite something to live in an age of riotous immorality, and yet to be accounted the most dissolute individual of the time. That is the achievement of the notorious John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester, who lived very fast and died very young in the reign of Charles II. He is the subject of a film to be released shortly, starring Johnny Depp as the handsome, witty, devastatingly charming and unstoppably immoral Earl. But however good the film is, and however many X-ratings it gets, it can never capture all the truth about Rochester, for, surprising as it may seem, we live in a more prudish age than he did, and not all his doings can be reprised on the cinema screen.

Rochester was a poet of great talent, a brave naval officer, a rampantly intemperate bisexual, a harvester of maidenheads, a pimp and bawd for his King, a Hooray Henry repeatedly involved in duels and brawls (at least one of which resulted in the murder of a citizen of London) –

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**Language warning**

Prince of Darkness
Booze, Oscars and tax breaks.. On set as Johnny Depp delivers his most outrageous performance ever in The Libertine
Words Jonathan Crocker additional reporting Martyn Palmer.

“This guy had been kept in the darkness for far too long.” Says Johnny Depp, leaning towards Total Film. We’re in Depp’s trailer on the Isle of Man. It’s cold outside. He’s wearing cuffs frilly enough to shame a poodle and passionatley telling us about John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester. “He’s an incredible character. I’m amazed that, like, Marquis de Sade has got more action, you know? But then I’m also amazed Marlowe hasn’t got as much action as Shakespeare…”

Depp in in his element. “It’s been great. It feels f**king great…” And he deserves to enjoy the moment. Because his journey to playing the titular 17th-century poet hellraiser in The Libertine has been much longer and more involved than simply nipping over the choppy water from his home in France.

It started in 1995. Depp watched John Malcovich playing Rochester in Stephen Jeffreys’ play. He was brilliant, Johnny told him so. Malkovich said he wanted him to star as Rochester on screen…

Depp has signed to headline, bringing freshly found box office clout in addition to his talent, having just starred in Pirates of The Caribbean. He also approves of edgy Accurist and BMW ad helmer Laurence Dunmore,

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Earlier this week, at a screening of The Brothers Grimm (he’s still beating away at that poor thing? Hasn’t he given up and moved on to Tideland yet?), Terry Gilliam hinted that he may yet return to The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, the accursed project documented in the documentary, Lost in La Mancha. “We’re getting closer to getting the script to Don Quixote back,” the director said. “Johnny [Depp]’s still there, we caught him in Toronto – he said publicly [he would do it] again so we’re good.” – by Karina Longworth for Cinematical.

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The Official Libertine Website is up and running. According to the Weinstein Co. site there will be a one week exclusive run of the controversial film in LA and New York on 11-25-05 and then the film will open nationwide for the rest of us (in the USA) on 1-13-06.

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AFI Fest salutes the prolific actor for his body of work and his newest challenging role – By Gina McIntyre, AFI Fest 2005.

Depp thoughts
AFI Fest salutes the prolific actor for his body of work and his newest challenging role.

Johnny on the screen
The four films in AFI’s Depp retrospective reflect some of the actor’s most memorable work.

In the monologue that opens Laurence Dunmore’s feature-film debut “The Libertine,” Johnny Depp, playing the libidinous John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester in the court of King Charles II, leans forward from his seat in a dimly lit room to tell his audience that they will utterly detest the man they are about to meet. He boasts of his unparalleled vices, touting his depravity proudly before reclining backward into shadow and disappearing from view.

It is an unconventional start for a period costume drama, but the film itself (which the Weinstein Co. is set to release on Nov. 23 in New York and Los Angeles) is, like its leading man, unconventional. Adapted from Stephen Jeffreys’ play of the same name — which was originally staged with John Malkovich in the lead at Chicago’s famed Steppenwolf Theatre — “Libertine” depicts the latter years of the life of Rochester, post-Elizabethan England’s most notorious bad boy, whose obsessions with sex and rebellion led him down a fatal path of alcoholism and disease.

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The Daily Star

Despite Johnny Depps dodgy dress sense he still looked lovely when he stepped out for a spot of retail therapy in New York. Armed with a stylist, Johnny, 42, headed for Bloomingdales and Macy’s. But we can’t be too tough on the super sexy fella as he admits he has no idea how to dress well. He said: “Some people have that ability to wear whatever they want and wear it well, but not me.” Copyright (c) 1998-2005 The Daily Star. All rights reserved.

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