Johnny Depp plays evil awfully well in his latest flick, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. But in real life, the actor doesn’t seem to have a dark side. In fact, he’s a happy family man, LIFE & STYLE reports.

“I’m where I want to be — and 99.9 percent of that is because I was blessed with my girl and my kids,” Johnny, 44, says, referring to his love of 10 years, singer-actress Vanessa Paradis, 35, daughter Lily-Rose, 8, and son Jack, 5. “I’m pretty fulfilled.” Sure seems that way: Once Johnny starts talking about his beautiful brood, he just can’t stop gushing.
Q: You’re such a famous actor — how important is your family in keeping you grounded?
A: My family is my sanctuary. I live for them. I finally found a reason to exist in this world. There’s nothing like it. I would give away everything if I could only keep my family. They have given me life, and they’re the greatest gift in the world.
Q: How do you keep your romance with Vanessa so strong?
A: I think trust is the most important thing in a relationship, along with the ability to communicate honestly with each other. Once communication stops, that waylays danger.
Q: You and Vanessa never married — do you think you will at some point?
A: We have considered ourselves husband and wife since the day we moved in together. We just haven’t gone through the formality.
Q: How do you feel about having to raise your children in today’s uncertain world?
A: As a parent, my job, besides giving them love and education, is to protect them by not allowing the harsh realities and difficulties of our world into theirs. You’ve got these pure, innocent little things, and all they want is love and happiness.
Q: You move around with your family a lot, having lived in LA and France. Have you always been such a free spirit?
A: Yes. It has to do with my upbringing. I don’t like to be stuck in one place for too long. We were total nomads when I was growing up. We traveled around all the time. It’s ingrained in my being. I think it’s good for kids to get out there and see the world.
Q: You’ve been working a lot lately. What would be your dream vacation?
A: Running around on the beach with the kids and taking them out on the boat. I want to take them swimming with dolphins, though hopefully not with sharks!