“To be chosen to play Willy Wonka in the first place is a great honor,” Johnny Depp told ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT in a segment that aired on Wednesday, June 22nd. The feature, introduced by actor Jordan Fry, who plays Mike Teevee, included footage shot on the Pinewood lot during the filming of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Brief clips of Willy Wonka interacting with the children in the factory were intercut with quotes from a clean-shaven Johnny and Freddie Highmore. “He’s kind of an angel,” Johnny said, referring to Freddie’s character, Charlie Bucket. “You end up feeling like you’ve met some kind of saint.”

“Working with Johnny was great,” said Jordan Fry, adding that Johnny was “very nice and down to earth–just like a regular guy.” In another segment of the interview, Johnny said that the chocolate factory “is like walking through Wonka’s brain–complicated . . . strange . . . fun!”

Thanks to Tigress and Fran-is-a-fan for posting news of the ET appearance before the fact, Veronica and abigail who posted reports of the interview, and tina_als_girl who provided the video file. Special thanks to Susanne for the screencaps on the Recent Pics board, and to Theresa who posted her first-ever screencaps on Pic Parties. To see a larger version of Susanne’s thumbnail at the left, click HERE. To see a different pose capped by Theresa, click HERE.