The art of transformation

J ohnny Depp (1963) is an American actor, pro-ducer and musician. He is perhaps one of the most versa-tile actors of his day and age in Hollywood. Depp was raised in Florida. He dropped out of school at age 15 in the hopes of becoming a rock musician. He got into acting after a visit to Los Angeles, California, where he met up with the actor Nicolas Cage, who advised him to turn to acting. He made his film debut in ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (1984).

In 1990, after numerous roles in teen-oriented films, Depp was firmly established as a leading Hollywood actor with the director Tim Burton movie ‘Edward Scissorhands’, where he played a sad-faced, tragic hero. Depp has played many different characters in his career – a man with hands made of scissors, the captain of a pirate ship and the owner of a chocolate factory. In ‘Edward Scissorhands’ (1990) Depp plays a shy and very lonely man who has scissors instead of hands. He looks quite frightening with his thin purple lips, pale skin and messy black hair. Still, he is one of the most lovable characters.

I n ‘The Pirates of the Caribbean’ trilogy (2003-2007) Depp magically transforms into Captain Jack Sparrow, the cunning but likeable captain of a pirate ship. Sparrow is probably the most famous character that Depp has played. He has a beard, a moustache and long hair and he wears a headscarf. Captain Sparrow is just as nutty as Edward, but a lot funnier, and braver, too.

In ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (2006), Depp plays Willy Wonka, the owner of a chocolate factory and inventor of many crazy and wonderful inventions.

B rad pitt

Brad Pitt was born in 1963 in Oklahoma and raised in Springfield, Missouri. At High School, Pitt was involved in sports, debating, student government and school musicals. When Brad Pitt got a place at the University of Missouri of Journalism with a focus on advertising, he had no idea that some years later he would become one of the most popular American actors. Soon young Brad found that he just wasn’t interested enough in journalism, so he dropped out the university in his final year. He then moved to Los Angeles, California where he had many different jobs such as a fridge deliveryman, a limousine driver before he got his first acting job. After playing a number of small parts, he got the part in the film ‘Thelma and Louise’. Today Pitt is a very successful actor, he travels all over the world and he is also famous for his charity work in third world countries.

Words & Expressions:

versatile – разносторонний

‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ – «Кошмар на улице Вязов»

teen-oriented films – фильмы для подростков

‘Edward Scissorhands’ – «Эдвард Руки-ножницы»

lovable – милый, симпатичный

‘The Pirates of the Caribbean’ – «Пираты Карибского моря»

nutty – необычный, ненормальный

charity – благотворительность

Questions:

1. Why do actors need to change their appearance?

2. Does the appearance reflect the theatre or film character?

3. Who is your favourite actor? Speak about him/her. Follow the plan.

a) introduction (name, date of birth, what famous for)

b) early years (family, studies, etc.)

c) later years (job, achievements)

d) your comments/feelings