Wes Craven says Johnny Depp owes his film career to Craven’s daughter Jessica – she was the one who talked her dad into hiring Johnny in his very first film. 

Craven told Fine Living TV Network in a special called “Inside Haunted Hollywood,” which is scheduled to air on October 20th, that he was the first director to cast Depp in a film – the 1984 screamfest classic, “A Nightmare on Elm Street.”

Says Craven:

“I could make up all kinds of stories about why I had the perception and presence to cast Johnny Depp, but I would be a liar. We were looking for someone in the role as Nancy’s boyfriend…the boy next door…and in comes Johnny Depp with a friend…the long hair, his fingers were yellow, and I thought, ‘This isn’t the boy next door and he can’t act and he’s so nervous. Sweet, but…. .’” 

It wasn’t until Jessica Craven, the director’s daughter, saw Depp’s audition photos and exclaimed to her father, ”He’s beautiful!” that Craven had a change of heart and took a chance on the unknown actor. 

The rest - as we know - is history!