Johnny Depp speaks about his “sometimes tragic” Hollywood career in his acceptance speech at the awards ceremony

Johnny Depp described his Hollywood career as “sometimes tragic” in an acceptance speech at the National Film Awards.

The 61-year-old actor from “Pirates of the Caribbean” was honored for his role in his comeback film Jeanne du Barrya French historical drama about the life of Jeanne Vaubernier, the main mistress of King Louis XV, with Depp playing the king.

The film is Depp's first major role since winning his high-profile defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard in 2022.

While Jeanne du Barry has received mixed reviews, with The Independents film critic Clarisse Loughrey gives one out of five starsDepp was awarded the Global Contribution to Motion Picture Award and appeared in a recorded message to accept it.

In the video shown at the event in London on Thursday evening (July 4), he began: “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today. I feel very lucky and honoured that you – all of you – allow me to continue doing the work that I love so much.”

“The work I do is inspired by all of you who have walked this long journey and understood.”

He continued: “It is always a very special feeling of humility when recognition for one's efforts comes directly from the hearts of people, from the hearts and minds of the people who have accompanied me on this long, mystical, magical, sometimes tragic – but never boring – journey.

“I can't thank you all enough for allowing me to continue to tell the stories I believe need to be told, and for sticking with me and my curious collection of characters over the years.

He told his fans that they were the reason he still felt “the drive to keep moving forward.”

“It is only because of you that I am here today,” he said. “I thank you and send you lots of love and respect always.”

Elsewhere at the awards ceremony: the Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black won the award for Best Drama, while Adam Deacon won the award for Best Actor for Sumotherhoodand Patricia Hodge was named best actress for her role in Arthur's WhiskyThe National Film Awards have been presented in the UK for the last decade and are part of the National Film Academy.

In The IndependentIn his review of “Jeanne Du Barry,” Loughrey wrote that Depp's comeback performance was “so remarkably listless that his casting seems to serve no purpose other than to deliberately stir up controversy.”

Loughrey mentions the filmmaker behind the film, Maïwenn, writing: “Maïwenn, who is critical of feminism and the #MeToo movement, shows no discernible interest in the relationship between power and sex, instead portraying Jeanne merely as an 18th-century pick-me-girl – a natural free spirit in a court full of painted harpies. There is not an ounce of subtlety here.”

The film was controversial and selected as the opening film for the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, and Depp received a seven-minute standing ovation from the audience.

Cannes director Thierry Fremaux faced heavy criticism for his decision to open the festival with Depp's film. The reason for this was the allegations made against him by his ex-wife Heard in the defamation trial.

Depp eventually won the case after a jury found that Heard had defamed him by implying that he had abused her in 2018. Washington Post Opinion.

“We only know one thing, it is the justice system, and I believe he won the case,” Fremaux said in response to criticism last year.

Director Maïwenn – who also stars in the film – was also embroiled in controversy after admitting to attacking a journalist.