Johnny Depp’s ‘Aging’ Look & ‘Wet Hair’ at 61 Spark Reactions After His Appearance at the Rome Film Festival

Silver screen legend Johnny Depp, 61, had all eyes on him at the 19th Rome Film Festival, which he attended on October 26 (2024), for the presentation of his movie “Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness.” While some fans were happy to see Depp, others criticized his appearance and noted how time has not been kind to the actor.

Dressed in a dark, classic suit paired with a cream-collared top and an artfully patterned scarf, Depp’s look struck a balance between vintage flair and his signature bohemian edge. He accessorized his ensemble with tinted glasses and an array of rings.

His hair, which became a focal point online, was tousled and slightly curly. As the “Edward Scissorhands” actor walked the red carpet, cameras flashed around him, capturing his every move.

Video footage also shows Depp taking time to chat and pose with famous actor Riccardo Scamarcio, who plays the protagonist in Depp’s latest directorial endeavor.

“Modi, Three Days on the Wing of Madness” delves into the life of late Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, who was a figure revered and tortured by his own brilliance.

The film traces the artist’s journey through passion, vulnerability, and the relentless pursuit of creativity, and explores the fine line between genius and madness.

Depp’s camaraderie with Scamarcio, along with other cast members — including Antonia Desplat, Luisa Ranieri, and Bruno Gourey — was evident in the photos, where the group shared smiles and warm gestures.

The director’s night at the Rome Film Festival took a celebratory turn as he was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award — a moment captured in a video posted on YouTube by the Associated Press.

As he took the stage to accept the accolade, which was presented by Scamarcio, Depp shared a playful moment with the Italian actor. He gave him a light peck on the lips, which prompted cheers and laughter from the audience.

In his acceptance speech, Depp expressed deep gratitude to the attendees and delivered a message that was both sincere and reflective of his dedication to his craft.

“I have to salute you all because you’ve truly been warriors and heroes,” began the actor. He continued, “And you’re the very reason that I do continue and want to continue to make films.”

While Depp’s acknowledgment by the entertainment industry marked a momentous milestone, the public diverted their focus elsewhere, with many taking to social media to scrutinize his look.

Some implied that his appearance showed signs of wear and tear over the years. “Is that even him?” pondered an observer while another noted, “He’s not aging well.”

“Time hasn’t been kind to him, has it?” opined a netizen. In response, a user pointed out, “He’s the age of a grandfather. It’s unfortunate the last of his best years in Hollywood were taken from him.”

However, another person was quick to counter this perspective, remarking, “they were not. his career was declining for decades… now it’s done and he’s getting an award. that’s how it goes in his business. you rarely work into old age. [sic].”

Beyond the conversation around his age, several online spectators honed in on Depp’s hairstyle for the evening. “I love Johnny, but please wash your hair,” urged a social media user, while another repeated the message more succinctly, “Wash You [sic] hair.” “Considering he doesn’t like to bathe it’s probably grease,” added someone else.

Yet, amid the criticism, some fans thought Depp looked as captivating as ever. “the [sic] wet hair look 😩[…] 😍,” swooned an admirer. Noticing Depp’s demeanor, another complimented, “Looks great. Always a little nervous maybe? Cute!” “Amazing nervous so sad bless him it’s ok [sic] 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰,” echoed a fan.

Depp’s appearance also evoked feelings of nostalgia for some, who were reminded of one of his most iconic roles. “Capitan [sic]! JACK SPARROW 😍,” exclaimed an admirer, while another penned, “Capitan jack [sic] Sparrow inside 😍😍.”

Before making an appearance at the festival, Depp was spotted arriving in Rome, Italy, where he took the time to engage warmly with fans.

In these candid moments, he was seen sporting an oversized denim shirt with rolled-up sleeves. The top was also layered with a rugged scarf loosely draped around his neck.

Depp also wore a camouflage jacket, which he tied around a pair of checkered pants adorned with additional fabric layers that created a patchwork effect. He topped off the ensemble with a multi-colored, striped knit beanie and tinted sunglasses.

The actor greeted admirers with genuine enthusiasm, exchanging friendly words and posing for photos while flashing his pearly whites.

Previously known for not having the best dental health, Johnny Depp surprised the public with his “new teeth” in an Instagram carousel that a bartender from Lorraine’s Cafe & High Tide posted on August 30 (2024).

Footage showed Depp tasting one of the Bahamas bartender’s creations. The actor loved the concoction so much that he advised, “You better copyright this immediately.”

An image in the carousel also showed Depp posing next to an artwork of him as Captain Jack Sparrow from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.

A follower who saw the bartender’s second video of Depp wrote, “Def got his teeth done! Looks so good.” Someone else questioned, “Is it ke or does his teeth look more straight? [sic]”

A third person thought his teeth looked “brighter than ever before,” and in agreement, an Instagram user expressed, “Hello new teeth! He looks great :).”

“Johnny Depp wears dentures now because his real teeth are clearly damaged. Or he probably got a tooth infection and had them all pulled,” suggested an X user.

Other footage taken of Depp’s visit to the cafe included him sharing a meal with friends before posing with two fans by the same Jack Sparrow artwork. There was also a video of him shaking hands with the bartender, who is also known as Rap Rap Zoilo

Zoilo was thrilled about meeting the celebrity, noting, “jacksparrow meets the killerbartender of exuma bahamas once in a lifetime moments with mr jonhny Depp [sic].”

The comments made about Depp’s teeth came after Page Six shared comments from netizens who criticized the star’s previously rotting teeth in May 2023.

The post was captioned, “Fans repulsed by #JohnnyDepp’s brown, ‘rotting’ teeth at the #CannesFilmFestival.” An example of the types of comments Depp received included one in September 2023, where an X user wrote, “Johnny Depp’s teeth are literally rotting away.” The post included a photo of a smiling Depp with his hair slicked back, wearing sunglasses, and a suit.

At the time, he was attending the “Jeanne du Barry” screening and opening ceremony at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in France.

The actor altered the way his teeth looked before his cafe appearance and the Cannes Festival, too. In 2003, when Disney Studios wanted to create a movie based on its “Pirates of the Caribbean” park ride, Depp went above and beyond to embody the Sparrow character.

He shocked Disney executives and the film’s producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, when he got gold caps placed on his front teeth!

The actor recalled, “Jerry was slightly uncomfortable and the Disney executives weren’t exactly enthusiastic about it.”

However, he told them, “‘Look, these are the choices I made. You know my work. So either trust me or give me the boot.’ And luckily, they didn’t.” Yet, Depp still compromised by uncapping some of his teeth.