Johnny Depp the Pied Pirate

Johnny Depp as swashbuckling pirate Captain Jack Sparrow in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'.

Who would have believed that a former hotel-trashing bad boy would become the Pied Piper for movie-going children around the world?

Forty-three-year-old Johnny Depp, who reprises his role as Captain Jack Sparrow from the phenomenally successful Pirates of the Caribbean : The Curse of the Black Pearl, has inadvertently added a new niche to his impressive repertoire.

In the sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, this reluctant heart-throb will likely top this year's box office - eclipsing the disappointing turn-out for Mission Impossible and the lacklustre performance of the Da Vinci Code.

Following the success of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, perhaps it's his own childlike quality that resonates with his new pre-teen fanbase?

Depp ponders that possibility, looking as usual out of place in upscale surroundings of the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills (even though he's more accustomed to five-star establishments than he would have you believe). Scratching his chin, he says, "It's probably ignorance. I might just be really dumb. I don't know," he laughs, revealing a self-deprecating humour.

With his family never far from his mind, he suggests, "Maybe what keeps you a child more than anything is your kids. Hanging around them, watching them experience things for the first time. Just the miracle of saving a drawing they made when they were 3 years old and looking at one they made when they were 4. There's a vast difference in that. And then up to 6 and 7 and it's like, 'I'm raising Picasso!"

He may or may not be raising a budding Picasso, but he is raising two children with his longtime girlfriend French pop singer and Chanel model Vanessa Paradis, 35. Their daughter, Lily-Rose was born in 1999 and their son, Jack, in 2002.

Thanks to his family, the world has the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. According to Newsweek, the story goes like this: In a visit to the Disney lot, Depp mentioned to the studio chairman, Dick Cook, that he'd been watching Disney movies with his daughter, loved them, and was hoping to voice a character in a Pixar movie.

When Cook mentioned that the studio was developing a movie based on the Disneyland theme-park ride Pirates of the Caribbean, Depp was excited. Cook recalls, "He said, 'Like a real pirate movie? With swords?' And I said, 'Yeah with swords.' And he said, 'I'm in'."

And thanks to that fortuitous conversation, Depp is now immortalised in animatronic form in the updated Disneyland ride, Pirates of the Caribbean.

"I can't explain how surreal it is," he laughs. "My kids were as excited as I was to see it. They were pretty freaked out, as was I. It's pretty wild."

Depp is sporting his trademark fedora hat, shorter than usual chin-length hair, and a trimmed goatee. Otherwise, he is unremarkably dressed and isn't adorned with his usual jangly chains or necklaces.

This Oscar nominated middle-aged sex symbol is worlds away from his free-wheeling "wild and crazy" days, associated with former high profile girlfriends: Kate Moss, Winona Ryder, Sherilyn Fenn, and Jennifer Grey. Nowadays, the actor evinces the kind of wisdom that can be attained only through street smarts and experience. He's more comfortable sipping fine wine in his home in the south of France than downing a six-pack in his hometown in rural Kentucky.

Depp, it seems, has come into his own. The former farmboy, who can pull off a European lifestyle as though he were born to it, has found his inner peace through his family.

Depp is not so much a Hollywood outsider as he is a man who doesn't buy into what the powers that be think - a rare quality for any actor (unless you happen to be Russell Crowe).

"I like keeping a distance from Hollywood and the social expectations that come with it, because, to be honest, I'm just not good at it," he laughs. "I don't want to have the pressure or responsibility of knowing who's the top dog this week and who's out from last week. I don't know who anyone is - and I really like that."

Looking back on his so-called turbulent youth, he says, "I was plagued by demons in my earlier years."

He famously trashed a New York City hotel room in 1994, when he was engaged to Kate Moss. He was also arrested in London for fighting with the paparazzi. "That whole rebellious image the press have of me has always made me laugh. Whatever I was doing never seemed particularly rebellious to me. I was never a 'party animal'. What I was doing had nothing to do with partying. I was trying to self-medicate myself to the point of numbness because I was so unhappy. My 30s were a weird time for me, but I'm no longer struggling with any demons. Now I'm just an expensive wino," he jokes.

"But seriously, I think having kids has a lot to do with being at peace. Kids give you perspective. They give you strength. And the things that you thought were important before, or the things that pissed you off before, can't touch you at all now. What's really important is family, loved ones, their wellbeing, and their future."

Depp's home is in a village in the south of France far from Hollywood's gaze, near fellow expat thespian, John Malkovich, with whom he will drink the occasional bottle of wine. He says, "I love that I live so far from Hollywood. That's the beauty of living in France. The people in our village are really wonderful, and are very protective. They see me and say, 'Hi Johnny, how are you doing?' It's no big deal. I love that."

His British co-star in Pirates of the Caribbean, Orlando Bloom, describes him ironically as "the most European guy I know".

Depp is the youngest of four siblings. When he was 7, the family moved from Kentucky to Florida where he spent the rest of his childhood. His parents divorced when he was 15, and after dropping out of high school he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a musician. He married makeup artist Lori Allison in 1981, which would change the course of his life. Although the marriage lasted only two years, Allison introduced him to Nicolas Cage, who set him on his path.

"I thought I was going to be a rock'n'roll guitar player. That was my dream. But at the time I was 20 years old, living in Hollywood, and I was desperate to get a job. Nic Cage was the guy who said, 'Why don't you try acting? I'll introduce you to my agent.' I had no acting aspirations, but with no money I would have tried just about anything."

He was cast in his first role, the horror flick Nightmare on Elm Street. Shortly afters he became a teen heartthrob on the hit TV show 21 Jump Street.

Instead of reaping the rewards of his sex symbol status, Depp did an about-face and deliberately chose under-the-radar projects such as Edward Scissorhands, Blow, and From Hell. "I was never interested in those other movies. Pirates of the Caribbean is probably the most commercial film I've ever done."

Clearly, Depp's role as family man agrees with him.

"I'd have a hundred kids if possible - but then again, I have the easy part of the gig. I don't know what Vanessa would say about that," he laughs.

"My daughter is this beautiful little princess. She's gentle; everything is soft and nice, and she glides through the room. She's a very girly little girl. And then my boy comes along and he's an absolute primitive!" he laughs.

"He's like a little caveman. He stumps in, runs into the wall, falls down, shakes off and gets up and does it again. The difference between them is wild. They are both little dreams.

"Vanessa's amazing in every way and I hope they get everything from her."

Close to his mother, he says, "From what I understand I used to do a lot of practical jokes, and I pissed her off quite frequently. But I have to say, some of the greatest advice I ever got was from my mom. As we're from Kentucky , this might sound a little bit rough," he says, leaning in closer. "She told me: 'Don't ever take any shit from anybody. Ever.' And that's what has stuck with me and I hope my kids in their lifetimes never, ever have to take shit off anybody either."

It comes as no surprise that Depp has won awards throughout his career, but an Oscar, for which he has been nominated twice (Pirates of the Caribbean, and Finding Neverland), remains out of his hands.

"Look, just getting an Oscar nomination has been unexpected and shocking to me. In fact, it's enough to be nominated."

Johnny Depp, swashbuckling star

Born: June 9, 1963

Key roles: Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), 21 Jump Street (TV series, 1987-89), Edward Scissorhands (1990), What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994), Donnie Brasco (1997), Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998), Chocolat (2000), Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Trivia: His partner is French actress and pop singer, Vanessa Paradis, mother to his children, Lily-Rose and Jack