In an interview with Ruben V. Nepales for the promotion of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST, Johnny Depp got to answer a few fresh questions. For example, Johnny was surprised to hear that co-star Keira Knightley had rated him a better kisser than Orlando Bloom. Asked to describe the mood when they kissed, Johnny diplomatically replied, “It is always awkward when you are kissing someone you are not romantically involved with. It is acting and it is fake. Kissing scenes are always strange to me, especially since Keira is twentysomething years younger. But she was a good sport. We did what we had to do . . . and moved on to the next thing. You can almost compare kissing scenes to stunts,” Johnny added. “It is a strange moment before and after. And then it is just done.”

And will Johnny feel equally awkward singing in the film version of the musical SWEENEY TODD? Johnny expressed enthusiasm for the project, calling the chance to make a sixth film with good friend Tim Burton “a great opportunity.” However, he warned the reporter that he “is not a singer.[. . .] I would never ever claim to be a singer but I am willing to give it a shot, to see if it works,” Johnny explained. At a time when he could easily rest on his accolades and enjoy his box-office success, Johnny instead is finding new ways to stretch as an actor: “It is important to try stuff.” He is even considering Marlon Brando’s advice that he play Hamlet: “It is one of the more frightening ideas ever but I think it would be great to do Hamlet in a very small theater.”

The Zone thanks gilly for posting the Nepales interview on the News & Views forum.