Johnny Depp doesn’t mind being considered “weird” after playing a range of eccentric characters because he thinks everyone is different and should be proud about it.

Johnny has played cross-dressing B-movie director Ed Wood, a disturbing Willy Wonka in the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake and Edward Scissorhands and has recently signed up to star as the murderous Sweeney Todd in the forthcoming Tim Burton’s musical film.

He said recently: “I was given the weird badge but I think everybody’s weird and that’s the key to it. We should celebrate out individuality, not be embarrassed or ashamed of it.”

“We all have idiosyncrasies. People do themselves a great disservice by not allowing themselves to see who they really are because they are afraid of what others might think.”

An inside source added that Johnny is practising using cut-throat razor at home in preparation for his new role: “Johnny is always very conscientious in his roles. For this part he has to get into the mind of a serial killer. He wants to feel adept with the razor blades, to feel as if they were an extension of his arm.”