The Secret World of Johnny Depp: The Intimate Biography of Hollywood's Best Loved Rebel [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Nigel Goodall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

Not only is Johnny Depp a huge star, but his unconventional choice of movie roles has made him a fascinating and mysterious character, endearing himself to audiences as diverse as the roles he plays. With appearances in both children's and adult films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Ed Wood, Depp has a mass market cross-generational appeal. Tracing his career from his debut in Nightmare on Elm Street in 1984 through to his flamboyant turn as the voice of Victor Van Dort in Corpse Bride and the spectacular success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, this biography shows how Depp has successfully carved a niche for himself as a serious, somewhat dark, idiosyncratic performer, consistently selecting roles that surprised critics and audiences alike. Other aspects of the charismatic actor's life charted include include failed engagements to Jennifer Grey, Winona Ryder, and Kate Moss; his current relationship with French singer-actress Vanessa Paradis, with whom he has two children; and his early wild parallel career as a rock musician.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While droves show up to see reclusive star Johnny Depp in the theaters, little is known about the unpredictable leading man's personal life; unfortunately, Goodall's attempt to go beyond the tabloid stories and Depp's bad boy image doesn't shed much light on the man or the talent responsible for some of modern Hollywood's most memorable characters. Goodall begins with Depp's troubled childhood and spends a considerable number of chapters discussing his films, but veers towards the sensational (and well-trod) in his discussion of Depp's engagement to Winona Rider and his relationship with model Kate Moss. A mix between a shallow biography and a detailed filmography with nothing new to add to the record, this volume is unlikely to satisfy.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Nigel Goodall has written more than a dozen books, including the best-selling Winona Ryder (Blake, 1998), nominated for the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction in 1999. He was a production associate for Channel 4's The Real Winona Ryder. His other books include Elton John: A Visual Documentary, an illustrated Rolling Stones book and the bestseller Kylie Naked: A Biography (Ebury, 2002, with Jenny Stanley-Clarke). He writes for magazines and contributes to various album, video and television projects. Nigel is divorced with two children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: John Blake (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844543870
• ASIN: B002YX0I9O
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,093,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( D ) > Depp, Johnny

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars dont waste you money !!, July 13, 2006

By 

shellyg - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret World of Johnny Depp: The Intimate Biography of Hollywood's Best-Loved Rebel (Hardcover)

if you are interested in reading about the plots for all of johnnies movies i suggest you buy this book---to call it an intimate BIOGRAPHY is a joke---i can find more interesting info about johnny depp browsing the internet. there were of course a few facts about his life sprinkled in among the details of his movies---i SAW all of his movies i didnt need a synopsis of them all over again----look around, folks, i am sure there is something much more interesting than this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Depp Deserves Much Better!, August 12, 2008

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Secret World of Johnny Depp: The Intimate Biography of Hollywood's Best Loved Rebel (Paperback)

I haven't seen every Johnny Depp movie ever made but I've seen enough to recognize a great talent at work. Depp is certainly a fascinating enough individual and talented enough actor to rate a well-researched, insightful, in-depth biography. Unfortunately it ain't this book!

Author Nigel Goodall subtitled his book an "intimate biography." Wishful thinking, Nigel! Although there's some biographical info, SECRET WORLD OF JOHNNY DEPP's main focus is actually JD's film work. Basically the book is a cobbled-together collection of previously published quotes, interviews and movie reviews from 40+ magazines, newspapers, etc. It wasn't written so much as assembled. The personal details Goodall provides are pretty much common knowledge; the insights already found in "People," "Rolling Stone," et al. Strictly cut-and-paste.

Bottom line: Unless you have to have EVERY book on Johnny Depp, skip this one and save $12.95.

******
Note to Mr. Goodall: "Cunningness" (p.293) is not a word.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Secret World of Johnny Depp, June 21, 2008

By 

Carol E. Miller "christmas carol" (So. Charleston, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Secret World of Johnny Depp: The Intimate Biography of Hollywood's Best Loved Rebel (Paperback)

Nice collection of photos and insight to Johnny's childhood and early years but I prefer Christopher Heard's book Johnny Depp Photo Album.