Johnny Depp has reportedly left Hollywood behind for a secluded life in East Sussex, where he is renting a ten-bedroom manor dating back to the 1850s. The property, hidden behind towering trees and Gothic statues, includes sunken gardens, water features, orchards, and an open-air amphitheatre. Locals have spotted the 62-year-old actor strolling the high street in nearby Wadhurst and enjoying breakfast on a terrace overlooking the countryside.
Depp's connection to the area began through visits to his late friend, guitarist Jeff Beck, who lived nearby. He stayed at Beck's farmhouse during the pandemic and remains close to Beck's widow, Sandra. Unlike the Cotswolds, which is popular with celebrities, East Sussex offers Depp anonymity, which a showbiz insider says reflects his desire for peace and quiet.
Depp's career suffered after losing a UK libel case in 2020, being labelled a 'wife beater', and losing roles in major franchises. Although he won a US defamation case against Amber Heard in 2022, he said in a recent interview: 'I was shunned, dumped, booted, deep-sixed, cancelled... I learned more than I ever dreamed I could.' He is now making a slow return, recently directing the film Modigliani: Three Days On The Wing Of Madness.
The manor is owned by multimillionaire Prudence Watts, 74, and rents for between £30,000 and £40,000 a month. Locals have described Depp as a 'really nice, down-to-earth bloke', and his presence has caused little disruption. One resident said: 'If I see him again, I’m going to ask for a selfie. I’m sure he won’t mind.'
