Lily-Rose Depp, daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, recently opened up about a childhood memory that still resonates with her to this day. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the 25-year-old actress shared how a certain classic film emotionally disturbed her as a child. Interestingly, it wasn’t the eerie or creepy nature of the film’s character that bothered her, but the harsh treatment of the character within the story.
Lily-Rose was referring to Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, in which her father Johnny Depp plays the titular character, a gentle but misunderstood man with scissor hands. While many people might remember the film for its gothic aesthetic and Johnny’s unique performance, for young Lily-Rose, it was the cruelty that Edward endured that left a lasting impact. “Movies are supposed to make you feel something. I was traumatized by it,” she explained, reflecting on the intense emotions she felt while watching her father’s character being mistreated by those around him.
Lily-Rose emphasized that it wasn’t the frightening appearance of Edward that disturbed her but the emotional pain he experienced. “Not because I thought he was scary, but because everyone was being so mean to him and I got really upset.” She admitted that, at that time, she didn’t have many childhood memories, but the impact of watching Edward Scissorhands was so profound that it stuck with her.
Looking back, she also connected this experience with her latest role in Nosferatu, a film in the horror genre that she’s now involved in. Reflecting on both Edward Scissorhands and Nosferatu, Lily-Rose admitted to feeling some empathy for the darker character, Nosferatu, despite him being the antagonist. She jokingly wondered if it was “sick” to feel this way, acknowledging how her empathy towards these characters often clashes with their roles in their respective stories.
Lily-Rose also shared insights into her upbringing in a creative environment, being the daughter of two highly artistic figures. She pointed out that, while she and her father have very different acting styles, growing up surrounded by the film industry shaped her passion for the craft. “We’re very different actors, but of course, you’re the product of your environment, and it’s a world I’ve always been very interested in,” she said.
Edward Scissorhands, the 1990 film by Tim Burton, tells the story of a man created with scissor-like hands who struggles to fit into society. The film also starred Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Anthony Michael Hall, and Kathy Baker, and has since become a beloved gothic classic.