David Nathan has been the German voice actor for Johnny Depp for 25 years. In an interview with stern, he reveals what he thinks about the current process and whether he will continue to synchronize it in the future.
David Nathan has been the German dubbing voice of Johnny Depp for 25 years now. With a few exceptions, he has spoken in all films of Depp’s career. Ironically, one film wasn’t included: The Rum Diary, the film where Amber Heard and Johnny Depp met and presumably fell in love. The two Hollywood stars are currently on trial in Virginia and are suing each other for defamation. In an interview with stern, David Nathan reveals what he thinks about the current process and whether he will continue to dub Johnny Depp in the future.
Mr. Nathan, you have been the voice of Johnny Depp for 25 years now. Did you think he would become such a big star? There was no telling that he would take off like that, really like a rocket. I didn’t expect that, and he probably didn’t either. But I saw right from the start that Johnny Depp was something special. But after the first cooperation with Tim Burton I was pretty sure that he would become a superstar.
How would you describe his development over the past 25 years? He has aged over the past 25 years. And me too. (laughs) If a new film comes out with it, I’ll watch it first before I dub it. And most of the time I think: Wow, he looks completely different: sometimes he’s a mad hatter, sometimes a taciturn criminal like in “The Black Mask”. But of course I also look at him a bit to see how he is doing privately. Sometimes he looks bloated, probably because he’s been drinking more alcohol lately. He leads quite a rock ‘n’ roll life. And I’m glad he’s still alive.
Have you ever met Johnny Depp in person? I went to the premiere of “The Tourist” with my wife. But we didn’t get any closer than ten meters to him, he was surrounded by a cluster of bodyguards. But then he waved to my wife. I never met him at work. I would have liked to have had a whiskey with him at the bar. But I know from experience with other actors that these encounters can also be slightly embarrassing. The actors then sit there and hear themselves in a strange voice: This is your German voice. But my wife was a Johnny Depp fan even before we met
He is currently in a court battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard. Do you think this will end his career? I’m not really interested in Hollywood gossip. But I don’t think his career will be over. Maybe he won’t be seen in Disney productions like “Pirates of the Caribbean” in the future. But up until now, I almost liked his little art house films best of all. The ones that don’t get a lot of media attention. I’m currently voicing him again in an art house film in which he plays a photographer in Japan. I’ve noticed that he has phases. He’s approaching 60 now. Maybe when Depp turns 70, Tarantino will come and dig him up again. He wouldn’t be the first to have this happen. I have that feeling. But they will always need Johnny Depp. His style of play is unique. He has become a brand and he will always fill special roles in a special way. Sometimes I can’t tell young actors apart. I’m not worried about him.
Do you also follow the currently running process? I watched it on Youtube for half an hour. The trial feels like a movie to me. I think they’re just playing it. But I’m also used to always seeing Johnny Depp in roles. But I would like to dub the court hearing. If someone has money for it, I would be there. Ironically, “The Rum Diary,” the film where Depp and Heard met, was also one of the very few in his career that I didn’t speak. I won’t look further into the process either, I’d like to sync it unencumbered by it in the future.
So you will continue to dub Johnny Depp films in the future? I will not distance myself from him. If he were a self-confessed Nazi, that would probably be something else. We don’t know what happened next. If allegations and offenses were anything to go by, there would probably be very few actors left in dubbing. He’s a character I feel connected to, I’m reluctant to give him up.
