Johnny Depp lifts spirits as he dresses up as Captain Jack Sparrow for virtual children’s hospital visit
Johnny Depp dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow for a virtual visit to a children’s hospital.
The 57-year-old actor donned his costume from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies in order to entertain the patients at Queensland Children’s Hospital, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the Juiced TV virtual visit, which was streamed live through the hospital, Johnny said: ‘It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been there and I miss it and I wanted to say hello.
Spreading cheer! Johnny Depp dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow for a virtual visit to a children’s hospital
‘It’s a wonderful facility. I’m with all of you and I send you all my love, all my irreverence and ignorance, because it’s fun to be irreverent and ignorant. Thank you for sticking with me through all these very strange years.
‘These three beautiful young people I’ve spoken with this evening and having heard from people who sent videos in, like little Ula, is one of the finest and most beautiful experiences that I’ve ever experienced and that is because of all of your commitment to this project and to taking care of one another and to helping out when times are curious and confusing.’
Johnny has always been a regular visitor to Great Ormond Street hospital in London, but the visits took on a new meaning in 2007 after his daughter Lily Rose, now 21, was treated there when she contracted e-coli poisoning.
Lifting spirits: Participants asked Sparrow an array of questions
Whoa! Viewers were dazzled by the pirate
Getting into character: Not only was Depp dressed the part, but he was even speaking from a pirate-themed set
Hello there! ‘It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been there and I miss it and I wanted to say hello’
‘I send you all my love’: Depp sent good vibes throughout the call
It was said to be ‘touch and go’ for Lily Rose for a while after the illness – which is commonly caused by improperly cooked meat, unpasteurised milk or water contamination – resulted in temporary kidney failure.
After her recovery, Johnny said on the Graham Norton Show: ‘When my daughter was ill in Great Ormond Street, it was the darkest period of my life. I’d always done these visits but after that experience the visits became more and more important.
‘The kids [at the hospital] are so courageous but to be able to bring a smile or a giggle to the parents means everything in the world to me.’
A pirate’s life for me! The actor spoke to the children by candle light
Doing good: Johnny previously visiting children at the hospital