WOOLWORTHS FRESH (Australia) January 10, 2005

JOHNNY DEPP - FATHER FIGURE

The comeback king's career is at an all-time high, but that doesn't stop him from playing Barbie dolls with his children. The handsome actor, who once indulged in a life of drugs and Hollywood parties, now prefers to live quietly in France with the mother of his two children, actress Vanessa Paradis. But Johnny won't be missing from the silver screen, with a memorable return to form in Oscar favourite Finding Neverland and a remake of the children's classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Turn to page 81 for more on Johnny and his Neverland.

Runner-Up: Hugh Jackman

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JOHNNY FINDS HIS NEVERLAND

Just like Peter Pan, Johnny Depp shows no sign of aging. In fact, the star of Finding Neverland is still a kid at heart.

"Johnny was the biggest kid of all," says Kate Winslet, who stars as Sylvia, a widowed mother of four, who meets Scottish playwright and Peter Pan creator, J.M. Barrie (Depp).

"Johnny is very, very playful. He does have a very childlike spirit, all of which worked really, really well for the character."

The father of Lily-Rose, 5, and Jack, 2, agrees. "It's kind of a child's job, being an actor. It's play, it's a fun time to some degree. It's a great job, being irresponsibly responsible."

A far cry from his wild days hanging at clubs, Johnny is enjoying the quiet family life with French singer-actress Vanessa Paradis, pictured above.

"Someone asked me the other day, "Where's your Neverland?" Well, I got it. I got everything. My girl, my kids, my family. Pure happiness."