Brian Cox “Sort Of Regrets” Calling Johnny Depp “Overrated”

Brian Cox says he “sort of regrets” branding Johnny Depp an “overrated” actor.

An extract from the 75-year-old’s autobiography, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, made headlines in recent months for its blunt assessment of a number of Hollywood elites.

His most heavily publicized comments were made against Depp, who he described as “overblown” and “overrated”.

Explaining that he’d once been offered the part of the Governor in Pirates of the Caribbean (ultimately played by Jonathan Pryce), Cox said he turned down the “thankless” role due to it being “the ‘Johhny Depp as Jack Sparrow‘ show”.

“Depp, personable though I’m sure he is, is so overblown, so overrated. I mean Edward Scissorhands. Let’s face it, if you come on with hands like that and pale scarred-face makeup, you don’t have to do anything. And he didn’t,” wrote Cox. “And subsequently, he’s done even less. But people love him. Or they did love him. They don’t love him so much these days, of course.”

Now, during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the Succession star joked that he’d, “Heard a lot from his – they call it a fan club, but I think its some sort of CIA agency.”

Revealing that he was releasing a paperback version of his memoir in the UK, Cox said he had written an addendum to soften some of his remarks.

“I thought I was being a bit harsh. You know what it’s like, you go for the easy joke. And I went for the easy joke.” He added, “I sort of regretted it. Because I’m not like that normally, but I was just being a bit glib, a little bit flippant.”

Other stars mentioned in the book include Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Steven Seagal, Alan Rickman, David Bowie, Keanu Reeves and Ed Norton.

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