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| Depp cuts a dash at Todd premiere | Depp cuts a dash at Todd premiere |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The actor Johnny Depp has met fans in London for the premiere of the film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, based on the hit musical. | The actor Johnny Depp has met fans in London for the premiere of the film Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, based on the hit musical. |
| He was joined in Leicester Square by co-stars Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall. | He was joined in Leicester Square by co-stars Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman and Timothy Spall. |
| Depp, 44, plays legendary 19th century serial killer Todd, a role which required him to sing. | Depp, 44, plays legendary 19th century serial killer Todd, a role which required him to sing. |
| Hundreds of fans were waiting for the star. He spent almost an hour talking to them and signing autographs. | Hundreds of fans were waiting for the star. He spent almost an hour talking to them and signing autographs. |
| The film's director Tim Burton was also there. He said he had wanted to make a film version of the story ever since he saw a stage production in London as a student. | The film's director Tim Burton was also there. He said he had wanted to make a film version of the story ever since he saw a stage production in London as a student. |
| Sporting a goatee beard, Burton joked he did not want to be shaved by someone he did not know. | Sporting a goatee beard, Burton joked he did not want to be shaved by someone he did not know. |
| Razor sharp | Razor sharp |
| The story of Sweeney Todd actually dates back to the 1840s. It is a vicious tale of murder and revenge, and is one of the first examples of a fictional serial killer. | The story of Sweeney Todd actually dates back to the 1840s. It is a vicious tale of murder and revenge, and is one of the first examples of a fictional serial killer. |
| It was turned into a play in 1973 and became a hit Stephen Sondheim musical six years later. Some of those revamped songs were being played out as the stars arrived in sparkling rain on a very wet red carpet. | It was turned into a play in 1973 and became a hit Stephen Sondheim musical six years later. Some of those revamped songs were being played out as the stars arrived in sparkling rain on a very wet red carpet. |
| Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter star in Sweeney Todd | Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter star in Sweeney Todd |
| The fans were even wetter. Some had arrived from Russia. A group of four from Japan said Depp was now the biggest star in their country. | The fans were even wetter. Some had arrived from Russia. A group of four from Japan said Depp was now the biggest star in their country. |
| The wait seemed to have paid off. After Depp moved on, one girl who had been there since the morning was screaming into her mobile phone: "He touched my hand, he touched my hand!" | The wait seemed to have paid off. After Depp moved on, one girl who had been there since the morning was screaming into her mobile phone: "He touched my hand, he touched my hand!" |
| Considering the nature of the film, Depp himself was dressed appropriately in black with an open necked shirt. | Considering the nature of the film, Depp himself was dressed appropriately in black with an open necked shirt. |
| He spent a lot of time meeting the fans and signing autographs but still seemed shy. | He spent a lot of time meeting the fans and signing autographs but still seemed shy. |
| Singing in the rain | Singing in the rain |
| Although Depp has played guitar in a rock band, he said he had never sung: "It was a great challenge to see if I could do it. | |
| "You've got to try something at least once and I gave it a shot." | "You've got to try something at least once and I gave it a shot." |
| Alan Rickman, who plays Todd's nemesis Judge Turpin, was also popular with the fans - and admitted to similar concerns with the singing. | Alan Rickman, who plays Todd's nemesis Judge Turpin, was also popular with the fans - and admitted to similar concerns with the singing. |
| "It was less singing and more careering from one note to another," he claimed. | "It was less singing and more careering from one note to another," he claimed. |
| Burton said he had always planned to cast actors who could sing, rather than singers who could act. | Burton said he had always planned to cast actors who could sing, rather than singers who could act. |
| Helena Bonham Carter loved the musical the moment she saw it | Helena Bonham Carter loved the musical the moment she saw it |
| It is the sixth time the director has collaborated with Depp. Their previous films include Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow. | It is the sixth time the director has collaborated with Depp. Their previous films include Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow. |
| Burton has defended the film's bloody murder scenes, which have earned it an 18 rating in the UK. | Burton has defended the film's bloody murder scenes, which have earned it an 18 rating in the UK. |
| "By having more blood, it actually made it a bit less graphic, because sometimes when you don't show stuff it has a tendency to be more real and disturbing," he said. | "By having more blood, it actually made it a bit less graphic, because sometimes when you don't show stuff it has a tendency to be more real and disturbing," he said. |
| His partner, Helena Bonham Carter, who co-stars in the movie, loved the gore. She plays Mrs Lovett, who recycles Todd's victims by serving up some particularly unpleasant pies. | His partner, Helena Bonham Carter, who co-stars in the movie, loved the gore. She plays Mrs Lovett, who recycles Todd's victims by serving up some particularly unpleasant pies. |
| "It's one of the best written roles for women ever. I loved it from the age of 13. I think I've always wanted to be Mrs Lovett." | "It's one of the best written roles for women ever. I loved it from the age of 13. I think I've always wanted to be Mrs Lovett." |
| The film has been nominated for four Golden Globes in total, including best picture. | The film has been nominated for four Golden Globes in total, including best picture. |
| It opens in the UK on 25 January. | It opens in the UK on 25 January. |