Sunday, February 23, 1997

BEVERLY HILLS -- You ain't seen crazy yet.

We've all heard about the crazy things Johnny Depp has done -- like trashing a hotel room -- but he claims he's recently done something that takes the cake.

"The idea of acting and directing is right up next to impossible," says Depp who is currently editing The Brave, a film which he and his brother D.P. Depp wrote, and that Johnny stars in and directs.

"It's the most insane thing I've ever done in my life.

"As an actor you have to be out of control, to a certain extent, and as a director you have to be completely in control," says Depp.

"I wanted to fire myself. I don't know if I'd ever do it again in my life," says Depp, 33.

"It's so much easier to just be an actor and dangle in your trailer until they call for you."

In Donnie Brasco, which opens here on Friday, Depp plays real-life FBI agent Joe Pistone, who went undercover in the Mafia for six years and used the code name Donnie Brasco.

While on set, Depp "dangled" with co-star Al Pacino, who plays Brasco's Mafia buddy Lefty.

"It's sick, the amount of talent (Pacino) has," praises Depp. "But Al is out of his mind.

"One day on the set, when we were sitting around talking -- it was about three or four weeks into shooting -- and Al's doing this thing." At which point Depp does a spot-on impression of Pacino, gravelly voice and all.

"I said to him: `You know I had no idea you were certifiably insane -- you're really crazy, aren't you?'" recalls Depp.

Pacino's response was perfect: "Oh yeah, you didn't know that? You, too, I think. I think you're a little messed up yourself."

Perhaps, Pacino concluded Depp is a little off centre because he always seems to choose the road most rocky.

"There's a drive in me that won't allow me to do certain things that are (easy)," explains Depp.

"I can weigh all the options, but there's always one thing there that goes `Johnny: This is the one.'

"And it's always the most difficult -- it's always the one that will cause the most trouble in this structured thing we call a career."

And while Depp is running from certain commitments -- two weeks ago he shaved his head because "I got sick of the responsibility of hair" -- he seems to be more open to acknowledging his long-term relationship with supermodel Kate Moss.

For the first time since they got together in 1994, Depp agreed to let Moss talk to a Vanity Fair reporter about their relationship. It was Moss who said no way, it's private.

"I was in England a few weeks ago and I read that I was already married," laughs Depp.

"No, I'm not married and it would be a real shock to me if I woke up and was."


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