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Johnny Depp's secret new life in rural Sussex with sprawling mansion

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Entertainment
Daily Mirror

Johnny Depp's secret new life in rural Sussex with sprawling mansion

Johnny Depp has reportedly ditched Hollywood for a sprawling Sussex mansion - hidden behind Gothic gates, and locals say he's been spotted "shopping quietly" and "enjoying country walks" Johnny Depp has traded the chaos of Hollywood for the quiet life of a secluded country mansion in East Sussex. The Caribbean actor appears determined to find peace in the rolling hills of rural England. Locals have spotted the 62-year-old Hollywood star strolling the high street in nearby Wadhurst and have also been seen wandering the grounds of his impressive and historic home. ‌ The ten-bedroom manor dates back to the 1850s and is hidden behind towering trees, ornate gates, and Gothic statues. The estate includes sunken gardens, water features, orchards, an open-air amphitheatre, and two staff cottages. According to a report, the star has often been spotted enjoying breakfast on a terrace overlooking the Sussex countryside. ‌ 'Mr Depp knows this area well and he loves it here,' a local source said. "It's a beautiful home and very peaceful.' ‌ His connection to the area reportedly began with visits to his late friend, guitarist Jeff Beck, who offered support during Depp's darkest days, even inviting him on stage when others turned their backs. Depp stayed at Beck's 16th-century farmhouse during the pandemic and remains close to Beck's widow, Sandra. ‌ Unlike the Cotswolds - favoured by stars like Hugh Grant, Stella McCartney, and Ellen DeGeneres - East Sussex offers anonymity. 'Johnny's choice of a very quiet corner of Sussex rather than the goldfish bowl that the Cotswolds has become for big stars tells you all you need to know about his mindset: he wants peace and quiet,' one showbiz insider told The Daily Mail. ‌ 'And he has no interest in being judged by the kind of people who walked away from him.' Depp's career was nearly destroyed after losing a UK libel case in 2020, being labeled a "wife beater," and then dropped from major roles, including Fantastic Beasts and Pirates of the Caribbean. Although he won a U.S. defamation case against Heard in 2022, the damage to his reputation was severe. ‌ 'I was shunned, dumped, booted, deep-sixed, cancelled, however you want to define it,' Depp said in a recent interview. 'Would I rather have not gone through that? Of course. But I learned more than I ever dreamed I could.' Now he's making a slow return as he was recently chauffeured from Sussex to the London premiere of Modigliani: Three Days On The Wing Of Madness—his first time directing since 1997. The film, set in WWI-era Paris, stars Riccardo Scamarcio and Al Pacino. His current residence is owned by multimillionaire Prudence Watts, 74, known locally for her garden centre and quiet philanthropy. ‌ The home, regarded as one of the finest in the area, reportedly rents for between £30,000 and £40,000 a month. It is owned by Prudence Watts, whose late husband, Kevan Watts, was a banker known for helping turn Merrill Lynch into a major global financial firm. Despite the tight security around the property, Depp's presence has caused little disruption in the area. 'He seems like a really nice, down-to-earth bloke,' said one local 'Being in East Sussex will do him some good.' Another person added: 'None of us are perfect—not even Johnny Depp. If I see him again, I'm going to ask for a selfie. I'm sure he won't mind.'

Retro Indy: When Lockerbie Square almost became a Victorian-era Hoosier Disneyland

Indianapolis Star

18-07-2025

Entertainment
Indianapolis Star

Retro Indy: When Lockerbie Square almost became a Victorian-era Hoosier Disneyland

Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley lived on Lockerbie Street from 1893 until his death in 1916. In the early 1900s, he penned an ode to the street with lines that read: 'Such a dear little street it is, nestled away. From the noise of the city and the heat of the day.' Riley's description is still apt more than 100 years after his death. With its tree-lined streets and restored 19th century homes, Lockerbie Square remains one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in downtown Indianapolis. But a redevelopment plan initially proposed by the city in the 1950s would have demolished many of these historic homes, replacing them with a tourist attraction proponents described as a combination of Colonial Williamsburg and Disneyland. The Lockerbie Fair plan was aimed at revitalizing a neighborhood that steadily declined in the years after Riley's death. Families fled downtown in the post WWI-era, eager to escape the black smoke pouring from coal-fired furnaces that covered everything with a sooty film. While Riley's home had been preserved as a museum in 1923, other residences were torn down, abandoned or turned into low-rent rooming houses. In 1958, the city released a detailed plan to rehabilitate the four-square block area surrounding Riley's home. Lockerbie Fair would include a children's park, a 'Gay 90s'-themed shopping area and a re-creation of a Victorian neighborhood complete with gas lights and cobblestone streets. Automobiles would be banned, and visitors transported by horse and buggy. The business community and local government strongly supported Lockerbie Fair. But as the project's price tag rose to $7.5 million over the next several years, public and private funding failed to materialize. The plan lay dormant until 1966, when the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana (now Indiana Landmarks) announced that it would seek legislation to establish a historic preservation commission to oversee the rehabilitation of the blighted Lockerbie area. The proposed legislation was adopted in 1967, and by the end of the year the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC) proposed a new plan for the living history site that would be entirely funded by the private sector. Under the revised Lockerbie Fair plan, many of the old homes that lined New York Street would be demolished or relocated to make way for a parking lot. Multiple historic buildings would be torn down and replaced with replicas of the first Indianapolis Statehouse and other long-gone historic buildings, including Circle Hall, where Henry Ward Beecher preached, and the Bates House, where Abraham Lincoln delivered a major speech on the way to his first inauguration in 1861. The Lockerbie Fair plan also included a 'Gay 90s' Main Street featuring a variety of old-timey stores, including a blacksmith and an ice cream parlor. Hook's considered moving its historic drugstore from the State Fairgrounds to the area, while the Indiana National Bank announced plans to establish a Victorian-style branch and L.S. Ayres expressed interest in opening a replica of its first store. Indiana Landmarks spearheaded the development of the plan, purchasing vacant lots and restoring historic homes. But by 1971, it became clear that the Lockerbie Fair concept was doomed. Businesses were reluctant to invest in the project without firm guarantees of retail success, and changes in the tax code forced Indiana Landmarks to temporarily withdraw its support. The neighborhood continued to decline, due in part to absentee landlords who served a transient clientele and cared little about preservation. The turning point for Lockerbie Square came 50 years ago when cities were asked to adopt projects in honor of the nation's 200th birthday. The city's bicentennial committee charged the IHPC with developing a 'realistic' plan for Lockerbie., With the support of the newly formed neighborhood association, Indiana Landmarks restored the Holler cottage at 324 N. Park Avenue to serve as the city's bicentennial headquarters and show what could be done with homes in the area.

Johnny Depp breaks silence: 'I was shunned, dumped, cancelled' – now he's back with a film

Express Tribune

07-07-2025

Entertainment
Express Tribune

Johnny Depp breaks silence: 'I was shunned, dumped, cancelled' – now he's back with a film

Johnny Depp is making a defiant return to the world of filmmaking. Speaking candidly from his post-production base in London, the 62-year-old star reflects on a tumultuous few years marked by lawsuits, headlines, and exile from Hollywood. "I was shunned, dumped, booted, deep-sixed, cancelled – however you want to define it," he says, describing the professional fallout following abuse allegations from his ex-wife Amber Heard. Depp's new project, Modigliani: Three Days on the Wing of Madness, marks his first time directing since 1997. The film, centred on the life of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, is set in WWI-era Paris and features Riccardo Scamarcio in the lead and Al Pacino in a supporting role. Depp says directing was a reluctant venture, encouraged by Pacino, but one he grew passionate about. Despite his reputation for avoiding convention, Depp is visibly moved by the connection he feels to Modigliani – another misunderstood artist. "Hunter [S. Thompson] used to quote Dr Johnson: 'He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.' That's Modigliani too,' he reflects. Depp doesn't shy away from discussing the damage of his very public legal war. He notes he could've retired quietly but chose not to. 'I fought it because had I not, then I wouldn't have been me.' Though his past is pockmarked with personal demons, including childhood abuse and substance struggles, Depp is more determined than bitter. 'Would I rather not have gone through that? Of course,' he says. 'But I learned more than I ever dreamed I could.' Modigliani releases in cinemas on July 11, with special preview screenings and a recorded discussion featuring Depp and Scamarcio airing nationwide on July 10.

Putin using chemical weapons in Ukraine? German and Dutch intel make shocking claim against Russia

Time of India

04-07-2025

Politics
Time of India

Putin using chemical weapons in Ukraine? German and Dutch intel make shocking claim against Russia

In a stunning revelation, Dutch and German intelligence agencies have reported that Russia is using banned chemical weapons in Ukraine. The findings, based on independent investigations, include reports of choking agents dropped by drones to flush Ukrainian soldiers out of trenches, exposing them to deadly gunfire. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and the German BND say this is part of a disturbing trend, the normalisation of chemical warfare on the battlefield. Ukraine has reported over 9,000 incidents involving toxic substances, including chloropicrin, a WWI-era chemical more toxic than riot control agents. However, Russia has denied the use of such weapons and blames Ukraine, though Kyiv and Western officials reject those claims. Show more Show less

Putin caught red-handed? Dutch & German intel ‘expose' shocking Russian chemical warfare in Ukraine