When Johnny Depp Became Christina Ricci’s LGBTQ Teacher
Back in 1990, a nine‑year‑old Christina Ricci was on the set of Mermaids with the aging Johnny Depp (who was then 59) and his girlfriend Winona Ryder. When a bicker came up, Johnny stepped in as an unexpected life‑coach.
The Revelation on Set
- Ricci, then eight years old, asked, “What exactly is being homophobic?”
- Winona was at a loss, so she called up Johnny.
- Johnny answered in his simplest terms: “It’s when a man loves a man and a woman loves a woman.”
- Ricci, picturing a six‑year‑old mental selfie, instantly nodded, “Aha, got it!”
Fast‑Forward to Sleepy Hollow
Almost a decade later, the actress reunited with Johnny for a first‑ever on‑screen romance. She joked later that the moment felt “weird” because to her, Johnny still feels like a brother.
She explained, “We knew enough about each other to laugh, so Johnny turned it into a playful, ‘like we were rooting around together like pigs’ scene. But we kept it safe – no naked moments – because in her cultural background, women can’t be baring clothes.”
Why It Matters
The scene is a curtain‑raiser for the show’s new romance suspense, but Ricci also hopes it keeps conversations open about sexuality and family dynamics in Hollywood.
