Johnny Depp enjoying quiet life at 850-acre Somerset mansion as he outlines why he loves living in Britain
Johnny Depp has said he prefers living a quiet life in the United Kingdom
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Johnny Depp has said he prefers living a quiet life in the United Kingdom in his 850-acre estate in Somerset as he described British people as “cool”.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star relocated to Somerset following his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard last year.
Depp purchased the 19th-century style mansion, which boasts a huge manor house surrounded by walled gardens and a dairy farm, in 2014 for £13million.
The 59-year-oldshared that “one of the many things I love about Britain” is that “everywhere you go there is history and buildings with great character”.
Actor Johnny Depp bought the £13million mansion in 2014
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“I just love places with character,” Depp told the Somerset Life magazine.
“I have various houses in various places and they all mean something special. I don’t have them just to say I own them, I have them for use and because they are a bit special.”
Depp said that now he “can go into shops without being surrounded by people wanting selfies,” which he doesn’t mind “up to a point” but it can sometimes get “a little too crowded”.
“British people are cool and will greet you as if you are a neighbour – without going over the top,” he said.
“I like going to places, seeing things and meeting people – but I’m not the great extrovert that people think.”
“In truth, I’m quite a shy person. That’s one of the great things about Britain, and especially Somerset. I can just be me – and that’s nice.”
When the actor bought the Somerset Mansion, he was newly engaged to Heard, who he married in 2015 and divorced in 2017.
Depp sued his former wife for $50million over a 2018 op-ed she wrote in the Washington Post that suggested she was a victim of domestic abuse.
Although she did not name Depp, he claims her allegations made it difficult for him to secure acting roles.
He was awarded $10million in compensatory damages and $5million in punitive damages after a jury found Heard guilty of defamation.
Earlier this month, Depp was spotted at an antiques centre in Lincolnshire where he arrived by helicopter and was taken on a private tour.
Johnny Depp said that now he 'can go into shops without being surrounded by people wanting selfies'
PA
He bought three guitars, a skull-encrusted vase and an easel during his visit to Hemswell Antiques Centres.
Owner Robert Miller said: “He just bought a lot of very quirky items. A desk chair, three guitars, paint sets, easels, a few pictures, posters, just a whole range of things for decorative items for his own personal property.”
Miller explained that Depp had to conceal his identity because he “just wanted to relax and walk around without being bombarded by the general public”.
“We hosted refreshments for him and he was able to walk around,” Miller said.
“It was great because he was his normal self and he was very relaxed and was able to spend time looking at things and playing on the guitars that he wanted to play on.
“He felt very at home.”