Craven: Depp owes career to my daughter

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. filmmaker Wes Craven says actor Johnny Depp owes his career to Craven's daughter because she talked him into hiring Depp for his first movie.

Craven makes the remarks on an upcoming Fine Living TV Network special, "Inside Haunted Hollywood," which is set to air Oct. 20.

Craven was the first director to cast Depp in a movie -- the 1984 horror classic, "A Nightmare on Elm Street."

"I could make up all kinds of stories about why I had the perception and presence to cast Johnny Depp, but I would be a liar. We were looking for someone in the role as Nancy's boyfriend … the boy next door … and in comes Johnny Depp with a friend -- the long hair, his fingers were yellow, and I thought, 'This isn't the boy next door and he can't act and he's so nervous. Sweet, but …'"

It wasn't until Craven's daughter, Jessica, saw Depp's audition photos and said, "He's beautiful!" that the director decided to take a chance on him.

Depp went on to star in dozens of movies, including the "Pirates of the Caribbean" blockbusters. He will soon be seen in Tim Burton's movie musical version of "Sweeney Todd."