Johnny Depp is savvy to how fast time flies as a parent.
The Pirates of the Caribbean alum is wistful for the days when his and ex Vanessa Paradis' kids Lily-Rose Depp, 26, and Jack Depp, 23, were growing up away from the public spotlight in the south of France.
"I was Papa," he told The Sunday Times in an interview published June 21. "I cannot tell you how much I loved being Papa."
But when the family started spending more time in Los Angeles, Johnny—who split from Vanessa in 2012 after more than a decade together—recounted, "Papa was out the window. I was Dad."
Quipping that he now has "empty-nest syndrome," the 62-year-old continued, "Truly, the first time I felt I had a home was the place in the south of France where Vanessa and I raised the kiddies. That’s the only place that ever felt like home."
Still, Johnny noted that there's a possibility he can be called "Papa" again. After all, as the Edward Scissorhands actor pointed out, "I’m getting old enough for Papa to possibly come back."
Teasing that he's ready to become a grandfather, Johnny added, "Some motherf--ker's going to have to call me Papa!"
While Lily-Rose has followed his footsteps into acting, Johnny's younger child Jack continues to live under the radar. In fact, he worked as a bartender at Lebanese restaurant in Paris for two years until 2024.
And like his son, Johnny—who took a step back from acting in recent years amid his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard—now prefers a quieter lifestyle.
"To this day I just rarely go out," Johnny shared. “If friends invite me out for Mexican, I say, 'Dude, that’s sweet of you but I will ruin your night.' My presence will bring attention and, Jesus, I have had almost 40 years of fame but I'm still not used to it. And I’m glad I’m not."
That's also why he doesn't recommend the acting life for anyone looking to get into Hollywood.
“Sometimes kids say to me, ‘I want to be an actor, what’s your advice?’ And I say, ‘Don’t be!’" he said with a smile. "I know what’s coming for them. I was chucked on that road and the only advice that I can give is, ‘Don’t allow anyone to make you something you are not.’"
Johnny continued, "They’ll want you to be a poster boy and it’s tempting—a lot of money. And if that’s the direction you want? Go for it. But don't let anybody choose for you."
Keep reading to see more stars and their mini-me kids.
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With their matching jumpsuits, sleek hair and glasses, the two look more like twins than mother and daughter! "That moment when you realize you actually are becoming your mother #twinning #imnotmad," Willis joked on Instagram.
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You'll get a kick out of how much the soccer star and his son look alike.
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The mother-daughter pair looked like virtual twinsies (especially with those matching bobs) at the Chanel fall-winter Haute Couture show in Paris.
Julianne Moore & Liv Freundlich
The Oscar-winner and her daughter both rock the red hair.
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The nearly identical stunning stars even dress the same!
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The Fuller House star and her daughter are practically twins at the Summer TCA Press Tour.
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