Johnny Depp: The Eternal, Nonchalant Heart-throb

The following is an article I wrote in response to a prompt on helium.com:

As Johnny Depp gets closer to the dreaded 50-year milestone, people begin to debate whether his irresistible charm will stay with him as he ages. There are many things to take into account when considering the maintenance of this heart-throb status. I won't bother to address the obvious factor of physical beauty because that seems to be one point that few people worry about when it comes to Johnny Depp. But after considering his obviously attractive physical features, one can simply look at his movie roles to see his continued attractiveness. He never wanted to be the constantly adored pop idol and after 21 Jump Street, he noticeably chose unusual roles of personal importance to him. He's internationally recognized as an amazing actor and yet hasn't received too many awards because he remains true to himself in his movie choices, even if they aren't the typical blockbusters that generate Oscar buzz.

This brings me to his confidence. Confidence is a main factor in appeal and the heart-throb status. Johnny Depp's nonchalant, carefree attitude makes him both mysterious and admirable. He's a man who seems extremely secure in who he is and yet is extraordinarily humble. I think that is the main thing about Johnny Depp that keeps us wanting more. He has reportedly seen very few of his movies and feels that it's none of his business what they do with the film after he's done his job. I've personally never seen this attitude in another actor, which singles him out as an actor worth watching. His attitude towards his fans is also something worth noting. In the past he has been recognized as the most attentive actor to his fans. He always takes him to sign autographs or even just to wave at fans on set. In combination with his confidence and humbleness, the fact that Johnny Depp is so down-to-earth makes him even more attractive.

However, the key to understanding Johnny Depp's long term appeal is that he simply doesn't care whether or not he maintains his status as a heart-throb. What's most attractive about him is that he doesn't care enough about status to wonder whether or not he'll remain a heart-throb as he starts to age. In fact, he would probably find this article topic laughable. Knowing who he is and yet refusing to take himself too seriously makes Johnny Depp continuously attractive and will keep his fans watching and adoring him.

One final note that should be made on this topic is how similar actors compare when it comes to their heart-throb status. When looking over George Clooney, Brad Pitt, or Marlon Brando's careers, you'll find that this continued status often depends more on the audience than the actor. Clearly there are certain aspects of an actor that make him more attractive over time, but as the actor gets older so do his fans, and a new wave of heart-throbs enter Hollywood. The newest Hollywood heart-throbs such as Robert Pattinson, Channing Tatum, and Zac Efron have a whole different range of fans than Johnny Depp. While these actors may be pushing Johnny Depp out of the group of current heart-throbs, Johnny Depp will always be irresistible to his innumerable fans.