The sight of Johnny Depp performing unannounced at a primary school in Greenwich is so heart-warming it – almost – makes you forgive him for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Depp turned up at the school clad as alter-ego Captain Jack Sparrow (he'd been filming locally) in response to a letter he'd received from a pupil – Beatrice, nine – requesting his help leading a mutiny against her teachers.
Depp performed for 15 minutes at a hastily-organised assembly, produced the letter and warned the under-10s that a mutiny might get them into trouble. Footage found its way on to Newsround, the CBBC bulletin for youngsters. Highlights include the moment he inquires after their dental hygiene, plus the background cooing of teachers.
Two things are immediately apparent: Depp is terrific with children, and a genuinely generous man to boot – both facts that won't help anyone nursing a crush on him to get over it any quicker. This is a man who literally makes dreams come true.
Which other A-list films stars would do this sort of thing? Which of them actually respond to letters personally?
The answers lie with you. Have you ever sent fan mail to a movie icon (or even someone who's appeared, once, in a film) and got a response? I don't remember having done so myself – though I did post Roald Dahl a picture of a peach and ask him to come and speak at my school (he said he couldn't on account of a bad back).
