The actor got his big break by landing a part in Craven's 1984 horror, and he has revealed the director, who died last month (Aug15) after a battle with brain cancer, hired him on the advice of his daughter, and Depp will always be thankful.

Speaking at a question-and-answer session at the Toronto International Film Festival, Depp told the audience, "Wes Craven was the guy who gave me my start, from my perspective, for almost no reason in particular. I read scenes with his daughter when I auditioned for the part. At the time, I was a musician. I wasn't really acting. It was not anything very near to my brain or my heart, which is pretty much how it remains to this day...

"But Wes Craven was brave enough to give me the gig based on his daughter's opinion. I guess she had read with a bunch of actors, and after the casting sessions, she said, 'No, that's the guy.' I always think of her for putting me in this mess, and certainly Wes Craven for being very brave to give me this gig. But he was a good man - so rest in peace, old Wes."