Depp is Above the Law

By SAMANTHA ETTUS
21-JUL-05

This week two leading men are making headlines; one for his box office power and one for his adulterous affair. Which one would you rather be? It is no accident that Johnny Depp stays out of the tabloids while remaining in the game, most recently with the colossal hit, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. On the other end of the spectrum is Jude Law, whose public apology to his fiancé might not be enough to win her back. Law could learn a lot from studying the successful path of Depp, almost ten years his senior. Hollywood is the land of forgiveness and it is not too late for Law to manage his future more wisely than he has his present and past.

Johnny Depp
Finding Neverland, Pirates of the Caribbean, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands. Currently in production with his 35th film, Depp is a prolific actor with a steady stream of hits. After his breakout role on the TV series 21 Jump Street, he made the then difficult transition to the big screen and has never looked back. Depp has never scored points for normalcy; his aloof nature and quirkiness are integral to his brand and his lifestyle choices have supported that thoroughly in every way. Whether it is the roles he has selected or the direction he has taken in his personal life, he has consistently danced to the beat of his own drum. He built his brand on a series of calculated risks, never opting to play similar characters twice (with the exception of sequels) and always choosing projects that allow him to stretch his acting abilities. His decision to move to France six years ago with his girlfriend, Vanessa Paradis, was an enormous gamble, as he created a vast gulf between himself and Hollywood. Most actors would be too afraid of being forgotten after moving half way around the world, but not Depp. The air of mystery he exudes, his persistent underexposure, and his penchant for taking the road less traveled have only helped to intensify audiences’, producers’ and directors’ hunger for Depp, making it no accident that he is consistently offered Hollywood’s most offbeat and challenging roles.

Johnny Depp’s Celebrity A$$$$ets

Jude Law
Also a resident of Europe, the British born Law could have been viewed as the next Johnny Depp. Slight in build and strong in talent, Law and Depp have much in common. Law’s career has never been on a steeper trajectory than it is today with numerous hits under his belt, a People Magazine "Sexiest Man Alive" title behind him, and the adoration of countless fans. Yet at the pinnacle of success, Law is now making headlines for having an affair with his nanny behind the back of his also famous fiancé, Sienna Miller. And his public apology may have been his worst error yet; the obsessively private Depp would likely recoil at the thought of exposing himself so completely. Law seems to have drunk his own Kool-aid, believing that everyone in the world knows who he is and cares about his personal life. But for those unfamiliar with his work, Law’s public statement will be there first introduction to the guilty star. For the media and his fans, his open confession only leads us to contemplate other aspects of his personal life; though we never will know what ended Law’s six year marriage to Sadie Frost two years ago, his most recent transgression has offered us our most potent clue. Ironically, it was ex-wife Frost who outed her former spouse’s affair after one of their children reported it to her. Nonetheless, Law is not in as much hot water as one might think. In any other profession a public transgression like this might threaten a career, but in Hollywood drama is the norm and loyalty is a rare and skepticism-inducing virtue. This is a world that celebrated Elizabeth Taylor’s seven marriages and forgave her repeated trips to rehab, that still sees Marilyn Monroe as a hero, and that turns its back on the countless leading men and women who engage in on-set affairs. Though Law has cast a dark shadow over his career today, it is certainly temporary; regardless of how we feel about him off camera, we are used to suspending disbelief when we see him in films, and his acting career, which is at its peak, will remain unaffected. Besides, adultery loves company, and in Hollywood, there are plenty of wandering eyes.

Jude Law’s Celebrity A$$ets

Remember: the most dependable road to the top is to treat your brand as your greatest asset.

(Samantha Ettus, president of Ettus Media Management, is a leading voice on personality-driven brands. Her first book, "The Experts' Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do" (Random House), will be published in September. For more information, go to www.theexpertsguideto.com.)