Johnny Depp bravely opens up about ‘the darkest period in his life’

In a recent interview, Depp spoke about what he refers to as ‘the darkest period of his life’ and it’s a heartwarmingly sweet, if sad, moment. Speaking to celebrity interviewer Graham Norton on UK’s famed The Graham Norton Show, Depp recalled a time when his daughter, Lily-Rose, was in the hospital. In March of in 2007, as Depp was in peak form filming Tim Burton’s dark musical Sweeney Todd, his seven year-old daughter contracted an E. Coli infection that progressed to kidney failure. Depp and Lily-Rose’s mother, Vanessa Paradis, spent nine days at the hospital by their daughter’s bed. She eventually made a full recovery, but at the time, Depp told The Daily Mail “It was the most frightening thing we have ever been through. It was hell for all of us.”

During the interview, Norton brought up Depp’s penchant for making hospital visits dressed as his famed character Captain Jack Sparrow from The Pirates of the Caribbean series.

Depp said that these regular charity visits to hospitals have become more meaningful than ever since Lily-Rose’s illness. He points out that “…the kids- bless them, you know? They’re so strong. They’re so courageous, but the parents are the ones who are slowly dying. And to be able to bring a smile or a giggle to these people, it means everything in the world to me.”

There’s an important lesson we can all learn from Johnny Depp’s sincere statement. Surviving pain and fear, no matter how difficult it is at the time, gives us fuel to empathize with others. Even though Depp went out of his way before his daughter’s illness to be charitable, the gift of empathy allows him to direct his efforts toward people he might not have even realized were suffering. It’s a little something to remember the next time you’re stuck in a sucktastic situation; that what you’re going through might help you help others in the future.

Check out the interview, and prepare to get a little misty-eyed, below.

(Image via YouTube)