Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci shared a candid discussion about what it was like to be gay in the early days when Ricci was only 9 years old. Ricci was also working with the then-girlfriend of Depp, Winona Ryder, on the 90s classic, “Mermaids.”
“The “Yellowjackets” star remembered the conversation as she chatted with Andy Cohen on his SiriusXM’s “Radio Andy” show. She also remembered the time he worked with Depp for “Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas.”
“Johnny Depp is the person who taught me what homosexuality is when I was 9 years old,” she explained.
Cohen said, “Really? How did that idea happen and what did he do to explain the situation?”
“There was a situation at the set and somebody was not doing a good job with someone else,” Ricci said. “And they said”Oh, well it could be that he is homophobic.’ Then I thought”Well I’m not sure what homophobia is.’ there I was, in the Winonatrailer, and she said”I don’t know what to do … I don’t know how to explain it she got my phone on with Johnny. Then, Johnny explained the situation to me.”
Depp and Ryder started their relationship in 1990. They were married after just a few months of dating. They ended their turbulent relationship in 1993.
The Bravo patriarch was astonished and was quoted as saying, “That’s incredible.”
“Yeah I like the simplest of words,” she added. “He said”It’s when a guy would like to have sex with one another and when women are looking to have a sex session with a woman and I thought”Ah, okay.'”
Cohen appeared confused when he tried to clarify his position “This is some time after you were in ‘The Addams Family. It’s been a while since you’ve had an overnight stay at Cher’s. You’re trying to figure out the definition of a gay person?”
“So it’s not true, this is the set of the movie ‘Mermaids. It was when I was 9, I went to the set. My first film set,” she explained.
“Mermaids” was based on the novel written by Patty Dann and marked Ricci’s debut in the film. She also appeared alongside Cher as well as Bob Hoskins.
“I thought it was the set of the film ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.’ I’m the same as … ” Cohen laughed, and Ricci said: “No, that would’ve been insane.”
Cohen believed Cohen thought it was “very sweet” for Depp to clarify “it clearly,” with Ricci reassuring him that all was “just true the way I explained it to me.”
“I am in love with the fact that Winona Ryder was forced to get herself on the telephone for a conversation with Johnny Depp to get that story, and she was unable to give it away in a way, or I’m sure you’ll have Cher on the spot in the next movie trailer.”
“I realize, we should’ve just walked right over,” Ricci said.