Bond: Depp and Vanessa Paradis in Los Angeles

He is a man who seems totally comfortable in his own skin, not the broody Depp of years ago, but full of warmth.

Of his being cast in the first Pirates five years ago, he says: "I took a lot of heat from Disney and the people that write the cheques, but I did feel strongly that I was heading in the right direction, that my take on Captain Jack was who he should be."

At the time, he was unsure of the commercial potential of what was to become a new Disney treasure chest.

The first film grossed more than $1 billion and became one of the biggest money-making films of all time.

He was immediately signed on for two more, reportedly for $37 million.

The quirky, unbankable one has turned it all around. He's hit the jackpot. And that's not all.

He was nominated for an Oscar for playing Jack Sparrow.

Rarely does a film so commercially successful garner critical acclaim and get Oscar nominated.

Having tasted mainstream success for the first time, he found himself up for more.

Next was J.M. Barrie in Finding Neverland - a role not of darkness but of gentleness.