"Whatever she is doing, I'm there for her"
Johnny Depp says he is proud of his daughter – no matter what.
In August, Lily-Rose Depp, 16, revealed that she sees herself as sexually fluid when she joined the Self Evident Project, which celebrates people who are “anywhere on the LGBTQI spectrum.”
Depp has nothing but praise for his daughter and her openness.
“She’s got thousands of followers on social media, and they were all taken completely by surprise,” Depp, 52, told the Daily Mail. “But not me. I already knew because she tells me everything – she’s not afraid to say anything to me. We’re super-tight and I’m very proud of our relationship.”
Depp said he’s constantly impressed by his teenage daughter’s level of maturity and intelligence.
“Lily’s really together – she’s a sharp kid and one of the smartest human beings I have ever met.”
The actor values his close relationship with Lily-Rose, and points out the importance of letting her be her own person.
“Whatever she is doing, if she needs any advice, I’m there for her,” he explained. “Kids are going to make their own decisions, but I guess that the only thing you can do as a parent is to offer support. And I do.”
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Lily-Rose is already making a name for herself in Hollywood. At just 16 she has already landed several roles, including Yoga Hosers, and has appeared in high-profile modeling gigs for the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel.
While Depp is proud of everything she is accomplishing, he admits that it’s hard to see his “baby” grow up so fast.
“It’s such a funny thing when you see your daughter transitioning from your baby, your little girl, to suddenly being a young woman,” he said. “If you’re not really looking for it, you can miss it, and Lily-Rose is on that road already and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”
Also, the irony of Lily-Rose working with Karl Lagerfeld isn’t lost on Depp. Lily-Rose’s mother, Vanessa Paradis, also came up in the modeling world under the fashion icon’s guidance.
“She’s been snatched up by Karl Lagerfeld – which is a coincidence, as he spotted her mother when she was the same age, too – and when I see her with make-up and all that stuff, it’s really disturbing, because she’s a very beautiful girl, and it’s all happening so fast.”
Depp has been open about his discomfort with his children following in his Hollywood footsteps, but he admits he can’t deny Lily-Rose’s talent.
“Her becoming an actress was never my dream or my desire for her, but that’s what she enjoys doing, and it’s her passion and it’s where she ended up. And she’s got the goods – she can certainly deliver,” he said.
As Lily-Rose continues to establish herself, Depp said he will never stop worrying about his little girl.
“No matter how grown-up she gets, I’ll never stop worrying about her. It’s a father-daughter thing,” he explained. “She’s got a sensible head on her shoulders, and I trust her to lead a sensible, responsible life, but I can’t ever see the day coming when I just switch off to let her make her own way in the world.”
Depp had two children with Paradis during their long-term relationship: Lily-Rose and Jack, now 13. The actor married actress Amber Heard, 29, in February, and said she has created a close bond with his children.
This article originally appeared on People.com