New on Netflix: Johnny Depp in the most unexpected role of his career (and in French)

Under the direction of Maïwenn, Johnny Deep plays Louis XV in “Jeanne du Barry”, a film preceded by several controversies and available on Netflix.

When Johnny Depp was announced in the cast of Jeanne du Barry, a film by Maïwenn, the news did not go unnoticed. First of all because the actor, accused of domestic violence by his ex-partner Amber Heard, is at the heart of a legal battle. But also because this American by birth is preparing to play… a king of France.

The film focuses on the woman who, born into a very modest background, will become years later the favorite of Louis XV while she is mocked and glared at by the royal court. In the title role, Maïwenn – also a screenwriter and director – brings back to life this woman whose life is little known to the general public.

Made up and, of course, wigged, Johnny Depp plays here one of the most surprising roles of his career but also one of the least talkative. His lines are few because of his strong American accent. However, the actor was not worried, as he revealed to AlloCiné during the presentation of the film at the Cannes Film Festival:

“I wasn't worried about playing in French. There are words that don't exist anymore today, so when I changed things in the dialogues, I had to be careful. That was the difficulty for me..”

The most complicated part, however, was the transformation that involved costumes and makeup: “The wigs took a long time to put on. I had so much powder on my face that I looked like a neglected puppet that hadn't been played with in 25 years (laughs)“As for the heat imposed by the weight of the layers of clothing, Johnny Depp explains: “They were very hot back then too. It's nice to see the sweat running down the forehead.“

Interview by Thomas Desroches, in Cannes, May 17, 2023.

Jeanne du Barry is available on Netflix.