I Met Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is this year's Sexiest Man Alive, according to Cosmo UK. If you had told me I would someday hug him in a 7-Eleven parking lot across from Wrigley Field at 5 in the morning, I would have laughed in your face and told you to lay off the crack pipe. But on April 4, 2008, it happened.

It was a typical Thursday, hanging out with my best friend Sara and cousin Jessica, watching our favorite late-'80s cop drama, 21 Jump Street.

Earlier, Jessica had IM’ed me that Johnny Depp would be filming in Chicago. So we decided at 11 p.m. to go check out Johnny's set (most of the film was shot between 7 p.m. and 5 or 6 a.m.).

We had always joked, "When we meet Johnny Depp, we're gonna ask him what his favorite episode of 21 Jump Street is." Meeting Johnny was a crazy notion to us; there was no way it would actually happen.

Johnny Depp Fans Track Him Down in Chicago

We walked until we saw the trailers. We decided to wait despite the cold and drizzle. Security guards told us to go home because Johnny wouldn't be there. We almost gave up. Finally, around 3:30 a.m., Jerry—Johnny's bodyguard—came over and asked who we were waiting for.

We hesitated. "…Johnny Depp."

"Do you have anything you want him to sign?" We all nodded and frantically dug through our bags.

He said, "Okay, I'm gonna have him sign these, and when he's finished changing he'll come out and do some pictures. Alright?"

Jerry brought us our autographed stuff. I looked at my DVD cover:

• Anne =
• All my best
• Johnny Depp

Then, Jerry motioned for us to stand by Johnny's trailer: "Alright, over here. Make a line."

The thought that Johnny Depp would speak with me, that I would—oh holy God—get to touch him.... I couldn't handle it. Sara suddenly grasped my arm and I did a big, clichéd double-take.

Meeting Johnny Depp -- The Sexiest Man Alive

When he approached, my heart stopped. Time stalled into a slow-motion dream sequence. He shook my hand. I looked into those deep brown eyes and somehow managed, "You are my favorite actor."

He smiled and quietly said, “Thank you.”

Tentatively, I started, "Could I have a…" Before I could finish, he cut me off with a hug. After momentarily losing my ability to speak, I beamed, "It is such an honor to meet you."

With his arm still around me, he smiled again, "Oh, the honor's all mine." We took a picture, and something about him put me at ease; he’s so mellow, soft-spoken, and real. There’s not an ounce of fakeness.

Sara and Jessica got their pictures and hugs, and Jessica asked him his favorite episode of 21 Jump Street. He thought for a moment, "The one where we dress up like old people."

Jerry had been trying to move Johnny down the line. Then, everyone was finished, and he was about to head to his car. We walked up to him.

"I loved Sweeney Todd,” I said. “I was so impressed with your voice." He seemed bashful. I asked, "Are you going to be in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland?"

"Oh, I will if Tim asks me to." Big smile. "I love Tim."

Johnny hugged each of us again. "Thank you girls for coming out here, I feel so bad that you were waiting in the cold and rain for so long; thank you. Get some sleep, girls." We thanked him in return.

He got into the car and waved as his driver pulled away. We waved back and watched until it was gone. A moment of silence. Then we couldn't stay composed any longer: "OH MY GOD!!! WE MET JOHNNY DEPP!!!"

When we got back to my dorm, we basked in the pure feeling of joy. It was light outside but we were way too excited to sleep.

We put on 21 Jump Street.