Lily-Rose Depp and Johnny Depp: What People Get Wrong About Their Relationship

Growing up in the shadow of a massive oak tree usually means the sapling doesn't get much sun. For Lily-Rose Depp, that shadow wasn't just big; it was a global phenomenon. Being the daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis comes with a specific kind of baggage that most of us can't even imagine. It’s a mix of immense privilege and a level of scrutiny that would make most people hide under their covers for a decade.

But honestly? She didn’t hide.

Instead, she’s spent the last few years trying to dismantle the "nepo baby" label while navigating the fallout of her father’s very public legal battles. People always want to know: Are they close? Did she support him during the Amber Heard trial? Why didn't she speak up more? The reality of the Lily-Rose Depp and Johnny Depp dynamic is a lot more nuanced than a tabloid headline. It’s about a young woman trying to find her own voice while respecting a "secret garden" of family privacy that her parents spent years cultivating.

The Secret Garden: Growing Up Depp

Johnny and Vanessa Paradis weren't your typical Hollywood parents. They didn't parade their kids on red carpets or sell baby photos to People magazine. In fact, they did the opposite. They raised Lily-Rose and her brother, Jack, largely in France, away from the paparazzi-choked streets of Los Angeles.

Lily-Rose has often talked about this "protection" she felt as a kid. It wasn't about hiding them because they were ashamed; it was about giving them a shot at a normal-ish life. She’s bilingual, she’s cultured, and she’s remarkably grounded for someone whose godfather was Marilyn Manson.

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"I know my childhood didn't look like everybody's childhood, and it's a very particular thing to deal with, but it's also the only thing that I know," she told Elle in 2022.

She wasn't just some kid sitting in a trailer while her dad filmed Pirates of the Caribbean. She was watching the craft. She was seeing the toll it took. Interestingly, she recently mentioned a "difficult childhood memory" involving her father's work. She saw Edward Scissorhands when she was only three. She wasn't scared of the blades; she was "petrified" because everyone was being mean to her dad’s character. It’s a small detail, but it shows how deeply she felt for him even then.

Why Lily-Rose Depp Stayed Quiet During the Trial

When the 2022 defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard turned into a televised circus, the internet turned its gaze toward Lily-Rose. People were furious she wasn't posting hashtags or making long statements of support. They felt she "owed" it to him.

She didn't see it that way.

Lily-Rose is fiercely protective of her privacy. She’s made it clear that she doesn’t believe she has to answer for the men in her life—whether that’s her boyfriends or her father. This isn't because she doesn't love him. In fact, back in 2016 when the allegations first surfaced, she posted a since-deleted Instagram photo of them together, calling him the "sweetest, most loving person" she knew.

But by 2022? She was done being a proxy for his drama. She wanted to be defined by her own work, not his legal bills. Johnny himself has said that part of why he fought so hard was to clear his name for his kids. He wanted them to be able to walk down the street without hearing those accusations. They are "super-tight," according to Johnny, and he’s always maintained that he trusts her to lead her own life.

Stepping Out of the Shadow: From The Idol to Nosferatu

If you thought she was just a Chanel model, you haven't been paying attention. 2024 and 2025 were massive years for her. She went from the controversial, hyper-sexualized world of HBO’s The Idol to the haunting, gothic atmosphere of Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu.

The transition was jarring for some. The Idol was... a lot. It was slammed by critics, though many admitted Lily-Rose was the best thing about it. She brought a vulnerability to the character of Jocelyn that the script probably didn't deserve.

But then came Nosferatu.

Playing Ellen Hutter, she finally got the "prestige" win. Her performance was physical, intense, and—as some critics noted—a "revelation." She wasn't just the daughter of a legend anymore. She was a lead actress carrying a major film alongside Willem Dafoe and Bill Skarsgård. In early 2026, we’re seeing her continue this streak, with projects like Alpha Gang and a rumored role in a Johnny Hallyday biopic. She’s building a resume that looks nothing like her father’s, and that’s entirely by design.

What We Get Wrong About the "Nepo Baby" Label

Kinda feels like "nepo baby" is the insult of the decade, right? Lily-Rose gets it more than most. People assume her career was handed to her on a silver platter because of the Lily-Rose Depp and Johnny Depp connection.

While it’s true that having the last name "Depp" gets your foot in the door, it doesn't keep you in the room. If she couldn't act, Robert Eggers wouldn't have cast her as the lead in a $50 million gothic horror movie. Hollywood is a business; nobody is risking that kind of money just to do a favor for Captain Jack Sparrow.

Lily-Rose has been vocal about this frustration. She’s aware of her privilege, but she’s also aware of the work. She dropped out of high school at 17 to work. She’s been a brand ambassador for Chanel since she was a teenager. She’s been working while most of us were still trying to figure out our college majors.

The State of the Relationship in 2026

Where do they stand now? Honestly, they seem to be in a really good place. Johnny has been making his own "comeback" of sorts, touring with his band and starring in projects like Jeanne du Barry and the upcoming Day Drinker with Penélope Cruz.

He’s 62 now, and he seems more focused on his health and his art than the tabloid drama. He’s been a supportive figure in the background of Lily-Rose's career, even if he initially had reservations about her joining the industry. He told The Times he simply told her, "Go for it. But don't let anyone choose for you."

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Lily-Rose, meanwhile, is living her life in Los Angeles and Paris. She’s been in a steady relationship with rapper 070 Shake since 2023, and she’s much more focused on her craft than her family’s past.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Critics

If you're following the career of Lily-Rose or the legacy of Johnny Depp, keep these things in mind:

• Respect the "Secret Garden": Just because a celebrity doesn't post about their family doesn't mean there is drama. Privacy is a choice, and for the Depps, it’s a survival tactic.
• Watch the Work, Not the Last Name: If you want to see if Lily-Rose has "it," watch Nosferatu. It’s a masterclass in physical acting that stands completely apart from her father’s style.
• Separate the Art from the Artist: This is the age-old Hollywood struggle. Whether you’re a fan of Johnny or not, his daughter deserves the space to be evaluated as an independent creator.
• Look Forward: With her upcoming roles in Alpha Gang and Outer Dark, Lily-Rose is moving into a new phase of her career. She’s no longer just a "daughter of"; she’s a leading lady.

The relationship between Lily-Rose Depp and Johnny Depp isn't a soap opera, even if the media tries to make it one. It’s just a father and daughter navigating a very weird life under a very bright spotlight.

Check out Lily-Rose's performance in Nosferatu to see how she’s finally defining herself on her own terms.