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Johnny Depp brings Scrooge to London for Ebenezer Premiere Report by Mccallumj. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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01:01Scrooge, what was it like taking that character on?
01:03Fun.
01:04It was fun because he was a challenge.
01:06He was a great challenge.
01:07There's no way to, like, you cannot outdo other folks who played Scrooge.
01:14You can only look for your way in.
01:18So I just searched for a way in that I thought might be somewhat different than other choices.
01:27Did the transformation help you get into character?
01:29Definitely.
01:30Of course.
01:31Yeah, of course.
01:32Because as soon as the, certainly as soon as the makeup goes on and then, you know, the
01:38nose and the chin, you automatically, you suddenly just break into that brown.
01:46Um, then once the wardrobe goes on, that physical armor, you know, of Scrooge, you can feel yourself
01:56just kind of starting to shrink in front of you.
01:59Um, and that's the, that's a part of the process that I, that I adore because it's not just
02:10the choices you've made necessarily.
02:12It's the choices that have been made in the, in the process of the makeup, the wardrobe.
02:17So every little piece, and then along with your choices and the director's vision, it gives
02:25you, it gives you, uh, proof that, um, film is for sure a collaborative effort.
02:33Thank you very much for making this to us.
02:48On the screen as you're coming here, look.
02:49Boom.
02:50It's perfect timing.
02:51I can't see that.
02:51They knew we were coming to meet in Chad.
02:55So they set up just for you.
02:56I love the outfit.
02:57Do you know what I mean?
02:59Yes.
03:01I love it.
03:03Tell me, what was it like playing a character like this?
03:06Was it just so fun and freeing?
03:08Oh, it was, it was so much fun and I'm so grateful for, to Ty West for trusting me with
03:15this iconic role and we took some risks with it and I hope the audience eats it
03:20up.
03:20And I guess when you're playing characters like this and it's in a world like Evil
03:24Basin and Charles Dickens, it's such play, right, like you can just really enjoy it and
03:29get into it and kind of lose all inhibitions, right, in a way?
03:33Sure, sure.
03:33I mean, you have to, you know, there's so many dark, you know, heavy-laden moments,
03:38so finding the joy in the play in the midst of it is paramount.
03:41What was it like working opposite Johnny, because I love the scenes for you two.
03:45Oh, thank you.
03:46It was so much fun, you know, and I never would have imagined that we would find that kind
03:51of kinship between Ebeneezer and Christmas present, but it just goes to show how open
03:56he is as an actor and how brilliant he is.
03:59Amazing.
03:59Well, it's cold, so I won't hold you much longer, but thank you so much.
04:02Lovely to meet you.
04:03You look amazing.
04:04Appreciate it.
04:05Have a good night.
04:07Aw, how are you?
04:08Lovely to see you.
04:09This outfit is such a sleigh.
04:11Oh, come on.
04:12Literally, and it was all matching.
04:14You've got some tartan.
04:15Well.
04:15Is this your tartan?
04:17It might be.
04:17No, no.
04:18Mine is like a green and blue.
04:19Okay.
04:20Because my cousin's a McPherson, and for his wedding we all had to wear the ties.
04:24You had to wear it.
04:25I'm sure you loved it.
04:26Well, I was cosplaying as a McPherson, you see, because I'm not one, but I had to wear
04:30his tie.
04:30And then someone, you know, people have a few drinks, suddenly someone wanted to take the tie, you
04:36know, wear it around their heads, and now I lost it.
04:37Oh, I thought you were going to say they wanted to lift up your kilt.
04:39Oh, no.
04:40I wasn't wearing a kilt.
04:41I was just talking about the tie.
04:42The tie was...
04:43Yeah, yeah.
04:43I used to wear a kilt though.
04:44You look good-looking.
04:45Yeah, yeah.
04:46A black watch tartan.
04:47And you know what?
04:48True story.
04:51Angels is a very famous costume.
04:53Costumier.
04:54Yeah.
04:54Right?
04:54For movies.
04:55And 20, a million years ago, they were doing a sale, which they got rid of all the stuff.
05:00I used to wear one of the kilts from Braveheart.
05:02Did you?
05:03One of the actual kilts from Braveheart.
05:06By the way, I'm not Scottish.
05:08But my Scottish mother-in-law said she liked it, so I felt like that was the nod.
05:12You might be.
05:12I feel like there's a vibe here.
05:14You could be Scottish.
05:15Well, I feel like maybe I'm an honorary Scot.
05:18Oh, you am actually jointly being a Scot, so I'm the person that gives them out.
05:21Oh, thank goodness.
05:21So do you know what?
05:22For this outfit alone and your passion, you're the only one.
05:25I've got a Glaswegian mother-in-law, Isabel Thompson.
05:28Oh, then.
05:29And she gave me the nod of approval.
05:31I felt like that rid me, cured me of any cultural appropriation.
05:35Exactly.
05:36You know what I mean?
05:36The Scots will have me.
05:38We'll have you.
05:39I don't have my sword, but you're one of us now.
05:41You're in.
05:41You're in.
05:42Anyway, let's talk about this first of the film.
05:44I mean, how amazing is it to be a part of this?
05:46I know the story's been told before, but this is different, right?
05:49Yeah, I mean, also, Ty, I don't know if you've seen any of his other movies, but he's got this
05:55real panache when it comes to danger, mischief,
06:01of just finding the kind of rough edges of things.
06:04And I think that same energy of mischief is going to go into the finished product.
06:11You know what I mean?
06:11Like, I think that's what's so enticing about it because, you know, the cast is lots of amazing actors.
06:19But the script is so full of this wit and mischief.
06:24And I think, you know, it's going to be very cinematic and quite scary.
06:29It is. It's really scary, actually.
06:32I keep watching this and I can't see the screen and I just keep seeing Johnny Depp as Scrooge.
06:35And it's so weird because you look at it and it doesn't even look like him.
06:38No. And I didn't even recognize him on set.
06:40Did you not?
06:41No, no, no. Like, straight up, just, like, walking past him, being like, it's weird that he's not here.
06:46And, like, because he's got all the stuff on. I mean, it's like a really, just doesn't look like him
06:52at all.
06:52It's almost like a 3D literal version of the character, right?
06:56Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's really bonkers. But it took me a while. And then he was like, I'm right here.
07:00And I was like, oh, my God. Johnny. Goodness me. Goodness me.
07:05Well, listen, I won't keep you no longer, but thank you so much. And Scotland loves you.
07:08Oh, bless you.
07:09You're blessed.
07:10Bless you. Bless you. Thank you. I'm a huge fan. If you'll have me.
07:13Oh, we'll have you. Anytime.
07:16Hello.
07:17Lovely to see you look amazing.
07:19Thank you so much.
07:19It's so nice to see your gorgeous face.
07:21Because we keep seeing you on the screen.
07:23Yeah, I haven't even seen you.
07:23But we can't see your face.
07:24When you see it, tell me. I need to look at it.
07:26Literally, as soon as it pops up, it's freaking me out a little bit.
07:28Because I keep seeing it just pointing that as if I'm like, oh my God.
07:31What was it like taking on a character that's like this creature being ghost thing?
07:36Nothing but exciting, to be honest. I love, you know what, I love whether I'm playing a kind of monster
07:41or a creature or a human.
07:42I love things that are quite extreme. I find I really like and gravitate towards that.
07:48And I love watching performances that are really transformative.
07:51There you are!
07:54I had to see it. Thank you. Sorry to interrupt.
07:57Yeah, very transformative. So anything like that is super exciting to me.
08:02And this is, I mean, what an iconic character from literary history to get to play.
08:07These three ghosts. And, you know, you kind of know the parameters from the story of what it's going to
08:11be like.
08:12But every version we have, you know, I think that's why there are so many versions of this story in
08:17many different media.
08:19It's because there's so much you can do with it. There's so much to play with there.
08:23And so we have this amazing kind of raven imagery and the fingers and the feathers. Yeah, it's a lot
08:27of fun.
08:28How was haunting Johnny Depp? And did you ever think at any point in your career you'd be doing that?
08:32I hadn't planned for that. I'd like to think I gave him a spooking. I don't know if I did.
08:38I think I was a little formidable because when I was in the full getup, I was in these boots
08:43with a huge platform.
08:44I had the hood. I was probably a good eight foot tall in this huge, huge cloak.
08:50So people would come around the corner and have a little moment. And I'm sure he did first time.
08:53But he was great fun. He would always come over and say hello. He did a lot of practical jokes
08:57on set.
08:59Well, like scary jokes because obviously I was terrified watching this. It's quite scary.
09:03Yeah, well, that's what I think is also exciting about it. It's a nice mix of, it's cosy, it's scary,
09:13it's family, it's funny. It's like a bit of everything.
09:15So what kind of prank sign is he like jumping out on you? Because I'm terrified.
09:18I wanted to pitch to him that he like hide in the cloak and like burst out.
09:25Is that what you're going to do tonight when he arrives?
09:26Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll be like, do you want to just hide?
09:29Amazing. Well, thank you so much. Congratulations.
09:32Thank you. Thank you so much.
09:33I can't wait to see you something when we get to see you next time.
09:34Thank you so much. Thank you. Pleasure to see you. Thank you.
09:37Thank you. Thank you.
09:37I love you. You look absolutely gorgeous.
09:39Thanks. You look snug.
09:41Well, yes. This time of year, you've got to do it. Do you know what I mean?
09:43I like the leather as well. That's a good choice.
09:45Thanks.
09:46Listen, this is so exciting. It's a global premiere and this story's been told many times, but this is a
09:52different take on it, right?
09:54Why did you want to get involved in this version?
09:55I mean, have you seen the cast? Have you seen the director? Like, incredible.
10:01I feel very, very lucky. I'm a massive fan of Ty's. I think he's just an incredible storyteller and filmmaker.
10:08So yeah, it's just kind of just chomping at the bit to get on set.
10:11And there's lots of different characters in this. So tell us a little bit about yours.
10:14Well, I play Miss Piggy's character, famously, renditioned by Miss Piggy, Emily Cratchit. I feel like she's kind of like
10:24a part of like the nucleus of what is good and what you kind of like should be taking stock
10:29in life. And they're very poor. They're in dire straits, but their riches are each other. And kind of that
10:35was like a nice thing to play. And great kids. We had great kids. And playing with Rupert like it
10:40was just a ball.
10:41And what was it like working with Johnny Depp in this role particularly? Because when you look at even just
10:46the imagery is so unrecognisable, right? I mean, what was that like?
10:50It was insane. The transformation from the table read to his costume, like him in costume. And you wouldn't see
10:58him before a costume. He would just kind of appear on set. So it's like always kind of like, ooh,
11:03when's he coming? What's going to happen?
11:05He was just mischievous. He didn't know what he was going to get up to. He was always pulling pranks
11:09and stuff. And Scrooge is that kind of character as well. So like, did he stay in it? Or was
11:14he going to have? In and out, in and out. But there was always a glint in his eye. So
11:18it was such a laughing on set.
11:20I guess it's impossible when you're in that outfit. Do you know what I mean? You can't take yourself seriously.
11:25I know. Kind of being possessed by the little top hats.
11:28Yeah. Absolutely. Well, congratulations on this. Thank you. Stay warm. Thank you. You too. Speak soon.
11:32Take care.
12:02Take care.