While researching his role as John Dillinger in Public Enemies, Johnny Depp says he felt a connection to the outlaw in old films Depp watched for hours on his family’s black-and-white TV.

That was in South Florida, where his parents ultimately moved and split up. Young Depp was enthralled with Dillinger as well as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.

“I guess the era got me, the ’30s, ’40s and even the ’20s. I was fascinated with the old Bogey movies, with Cagney movies, or even Fred Astaire.”

Depp hasn’t seen Public Enemies. In fact, he hasn’t seen the last two Pirate films, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or Sweeney Todd.

“I try not to,” he says. “Once you see it, maybe you have to admit it is product or something.” Depp doesn’t like the idea of a price tag being placed on himself or the artistic process. “Having done it, lived it … I like the idea of just walking away with the experience.”