Disney thought Jack Sparrow was gay

The flamboyant pirate, which Depp says was based on the Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, has become one of the best-known film characters in the last decade, and helped turn the films into a billion dollar franchise.

But in an interview with Patti Smith for the January edition of Vanity Fair magazine, Depp said Disney initially "couldn't stand" his version of Sparrow, with one person asking if the character was homosexual.

Depp told the Disney executive "all my characters are gay", adding that "really made her nervous".

Depp's next role is in the movie The Tourist, in which he co-stars with Angelina Jolie. It opens next month.

In the interview, Depp said he felt sorry for the way the paparazzi hunted Jolie.

The actor also said that he had to be careful that photographers did not catch them too close together so rumours would not start.

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