Depp: "I'm socially inept at parties"

At first studio executives were thrilled when director Gore Verbinksi told them Johnny Depp wanted to star in 'The Lone Ranger'.

But their faces dropped, Depp laughs, when they realised he wanted to play Tonto opposite Armie Hammer's Ranger. "What? He wants to play Tonto? He's the sidekick!" Depp recalls.

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In an interview published in 'The Times', he says he took the role because "I wanted to maybe give some hope to kids on the reservations. they're living without running water and seeing problems with drugs and booze. But I wanted to show these kids, 'F*** that! You're still warriors, man'."

He is fiercely proud of his own Native American heritage, and for him this film was the chance to make some small amends for the way that American Indians have been portrayed on film in the past.

‘I was told at a very young age that I have some Indian blood – God knows how much, but it’s there. It’s part of me."

He's currently shooting sci fi film 'Transcendence' in Albuquerque, but says thoughts of retirement "pop up every day". The life of a celebrity, constantly on the run, sneaking into the back of hotels and restaurants, is the life of "a fugitive".

He never watches his performances.  And he says he hears Marlon Brando's voice in his ear all time telling him to move on.

He's no good at relaxing, starts worrying about war and injustice. "My brain on idle is a bad thing. I just get weird…antsy."

He still smokes and rails against the hypocrisy of LA where you can't light up while eating outside, even though you're prey to diesel fumes.

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He hasn't had a drink for a year and a half. He was never an alcoholic, but, "I just decided that I pretty much got everything I could out of it. I investigated wines and spirits thoroughly, and they investigated me as well, and we found that we got along beautifully, but maybe too well."

It was a prop, he admits for parties and talk shows. "I'm kind of socially inept… Mingling at parties and stuff like that has always not been a nice experience for me."

Sporting some very recently acquired tattoos he wears prescription glasses - since birth he's been "basically blind as a bat" in his left eye.

He also avoids underwear. "That's the general approach," he admits blushing.

He admits after a string of "semi-failure movies" in the 1990s "I was well on my way to Thermos and lunchbox antiquity" but 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Alice in Wonderland' made him box office gold again.

Acting has always been a form of escape. "Covering myself up in makeup, it's easier to look at someone else else… Jesus, you wake up in the morning and you brush your teeth, and you're like, "Ugh that f***er again? You're still here?'"

Also in 'Mail on Sunday' he was asked about turning 50 in June. How does he feel? 'Well, it would be worse not turning 50 - that would be a real drag,' said Johnny.

These days he can work on the projects that interest him. And one of those, he reveals, is a documentary that he’s making about the life of his close friend, Keith Richards.

"I’ve been working on it for about four years now and we’ve just completed the filming. Actually, it’s a little strange to call it a documentary, it’s more an opportunity to experience Keith – as people don’t get to see him because he’s quite a mysterious being."

"Essentially it’s Keith and I sitting around having a conversation and what it boils down to is his wisdom and his philosophy and his experiences – and that would be cut with footage of his life."

'The Lone Ranger' is released on 9th August.