It’s been 20 years since the release of Pirates of the Caribbean, and many of the original cast members have undergone significant changes. Johnny Depp’s career has declined due to personal scandals, while Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley continue to act regularly. Zoe Saldana, who was once an obscure supporting actress, has become one of the most popular and successful movie stars.
In 2003, the first installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, titled Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, hit the big screen. Directed by Gore Verbinski, the blockbuster tells the story of Captain Jack Sparrow and blacksmith Will Turner as they rescue Elizabeth Swann from the pirate crew of the Black Pearl. They face off against the villainous Captain Hector Barbossa, who is attempting to retrieve the last piece of the Aztec treasure to break a curse placed on himself and his crew for stealing it.
Despite not being highly anticipated, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl became a box office sensation with earnings of over $654 million. It was also one of the most popular films of 2003 and earned five Oscar nominations, along with numerous other accolades. Its enormous success paved the way for four more installments, released up until 2017, which together grossed over $4.5 billion. As Pirates of the Caribbean celebrates its 20th anniversary, the fame of its original cast, including Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, has significantly changed.
During the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp was already a well-known name in Hollywood, but the success of this series propelled the actor born in 1963 to become one of the most successful movie stars in the commercial film industry. In the movie, Depp impressed audiences with his portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow – a quirky and cunning pirate who is also full of swagger and honor. Jack appears disheveled, with dark circles under his always-lazy eyes, stumbling because of his drunkenness, and speaking in a slurred voice with clumsy gestures.
Johnny Depp’s impressive transformation in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl earned him widespread praise from both the entertainment industry and audiences alike. His portrayal of the character was so well-received that he even received nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Actor. Depp’s consistent performance throughout the franchise established him as the backbone of the Pirates of the Caribbean brand.
Besides Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp has also gained immense popularity with movies like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows, The Lone Ranger, and the Fantastic Beasts series. In 2012, “Captain Jack” was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood with a whopping salary of $75 million. Additionally, Depp is one of the world’s highest-grossing actors, with films featuring him earning over $10 billion at the box office.
Johnny Depp’s successful career has been accompanied by intense media and public attention on his personal life. The actor has been romantically linked to several famous women, including the French actress Vanessa Paradis, with whom he was in a relationship for 14 years (1998 to 2012), and they have two children together. In 2015, Depp married Amber Heard, but their marriage ended soon after when the young actress accused the actor of domestic violence. For many years, the couple had a tense post-divorce battle, which also affected Depp’s career. In 2022, the actor won the case against his ex-wife, making their legal dispute one of the most globally talked-about topics of the year.
Following a tumultuous legal battle, Johnny Depp is making efforts to restore his reputation by participating in music performances with Jeff Beck and enjoying the peaceful countryside of England. In May of this year, the 60-year-old star made a comeback at the Cannes Film Festival with the French film Jeanne du Barry. While Hollywood remains distant towards Depp, he is highly sought after in Europe. Fans have been continuously calling for his return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but the issue remains unresolved. Orlando Bloom.
During the early days of Pirates of the Caribbean, Orlando Bloom made a name for himself with his role in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He joined the blockbuster hit alongside Johnny Depp and played Will Turner, an apprentice blacksmith who had a pirate for a father. Turner fell in love with Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightley, and during their journey to rescue her, he discovered his true identity and the key to breaking the curse of the Black Pearl ship.
Will Turner’s character helped elevate Orlando Bloom’s global cinematic status. He was also an important factor in the attraction of the next two Pirates of the Caribbean films: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), and made a short appearance in the final installment. After Pirates of the Caribbean, Orlando Bloom continued to attract attention with Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, The Three Musketeers (2011), Zulu… Most recently, the 46-year-old star starred in the film Gran Turismo.
Actor Orlando Bloom had previously been married to supermodel Miranda Kerr for three years and has a son named Flynn. He has been in a relationship with singer Katy Perry since 2016, and they became engaged in 2019. Their daughter, Daisy, was born in August 2020 and they continue to be together to this day.
Keira Knightley’s fame skyrocketed after her portrayal of the strong, intelligent and independent Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Her character left a lasting impression due to her stunning appearance and adventurous love story with Will Turner. The actress born in 1985 continued to star alongside Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp in the two sequels while also making guest appearances in the final installment.
In addition to her well-known role in Pirates of the Caribbean, Keira Knightley has also gained widespread recognition for her performance in Pride and Prejudice (2005), earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Over the years, she has left her mark on various works such as Atonement, The Duchess, Anna Karenina, Begin Again, and The Imitation Game. In early 2023, the 38-year-old actress will take on a leading role in the film Boston Strangler.
Keira Knightley lives a relatively calm life behind the screen. She tied the knot with musician James Righton in 2013, and they welcomed two daughters in 2015 and 2019. They have been keeping a low profile to avoid media attention to their small family.
The actor born in 1951 made a strong impression in the first part of Pirates of the Caribbean when he played the villain Hector Barbossa – a pirate cursed with immortality for stealing treasure and serving as the captain of the Black Pearl. This character died at the end of the first film but was brought back to life in the following installments and appeared throughout the series.
Before being known to global audiences for his role as Hector Barbossa, the veteran actor had already achieved success on stage and the big screen. He won an Oscar for his leading role in Shine (1996) and made waves with The Talented Mr. Ripley (1998), Shakespeare in Love, Quills, The King’s Speech, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, The Book Thief, and more. Over the years, he has continued to tirelessly act in films and theater. With over five decades in the art industry, he has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including one Oscar, one Tony, one Emmy, two Golden Globes, and four SAG awards. He has been married to fellow actress Jane Menelaus since 1988 and they have two children together.
In Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Zoe Saldana plays Anamaria – a female pirate who joins Will Turner’s crew to get a chance to accuse Jack Sparrow of stealing her ship. At the time of Gore Verbinski’s blockbuster film, this black actress had only been in the entertainment industry for a few years and was still relatively unknown to the public.
Zoe Saldana’s role in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean helped her connect with global audiences, but the actress had a difficult experience during filming. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Saldana shared that it was her first major Hollywood project, with many actors, producers, and crew members involved. The team shot in various locations, and the environment was sometimes uncomfortable for them. Being young, the experience was overwhelming and too fast-paced for her. Overall, Saldana did not have a good experience with the film and felt lost in its chaos, which was not okay for her. Many years later, when she met Jerry Bruckheimer, the film’s producer, he apologized to her, which made her deeply grateful.
After starring in the hit film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Zoe Saldana went on to achieve great success in other films such as Star Trek, the Avatar series, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. In 2023, she will return to the screen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, reprising her role as Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite playing a minor role in Pirates of the Caribbean 20 years ago, Zoe Saldana has become one of the highest-grossing actresses in the world, with her films earning over $14 billion globally. The 45-year-old star is happily married to artist Marco Perego Saldana (pictured), whom she wed in 2013, and they have three children together.
