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The Dylan Thomas Birthplace

Johnny Depp Visits the Birthplace

Johnny Depp

We were privileged to welcome actor, writer & musician Johnny Depp to the Dylan Thomas Birthplace, Swansea, Wales on July 7th 2023.

Johnny Depp Outside The Birthplace
It was a pleasure to show Johnny around the house where Dylan was born, and where he wrote the majority of his published work.
 
Johnny has been a huge Dylan Thomas fan since he was a young boy. He was first introduced to Dylan by his older brother, and his writing has played a significant part in his life ever since.
The visit had an obvious & profound affect on Johnny. In his words he was ‘dumbfounded’ to be able to walk in Dylan’s footsteps, and see where it all began. He was warm and generous with his enthusiasm for the Birthplace & for Dylan.
 
To respect his privacy we won’t share everything we discussed or all images. Throughout our conversations his heartfelt passion for Dylan Thomas and his writing shone through. The tour of the Birthplace was hosted by house owner and renovator Geoff Haden, Dylan Thomas expert & writer Alun Gibbard. Geoff’s daughter Sarah was on hand to document & photograph the visit.
 
  • The tour started in the Parlour with Alun & Geoff giving Johnny a history of the house and its restoration. Back in 2005 Geoff rescued Dylan’s Birthplace from a run down student bedsit and restored it back to 1914, the year Dylan was born.
  • The next stop had to be the Front Bedroom. The very room that Dylan was born. A special place.
  • Next was Dylan’s sister’s bedroom. Nancy had dreams of becoming an actor, just like Johnny!
  • Then it was time to see Dylan’s tiny bedroom. Like many visitors Johnny was amazed that so much important Welsh writing came out of this small space. Johnny enjoyed a moment of reflection in this atmospheric room.
  • In Dylan’s Parents Bedroom Johnny was shown the window overlooking Swansea Bay that Geoff discovered & restored during the renovation. Dylan’s inspiration for ‘ships sailing over the roofs of houses’.
  • The gorgeous kitchen offered Johnny a glimpse into Edwardian domestic life.
  • In Dylan’s fathers study Geoff and Johnny exchanged fascinating stories of when they both met President Jimmy Carter – another huge Dylan Fan.
  • Before he left Johnny left us some kind words in the visitors book ending with “All respect always, Johnny”.

Johnny kindly invited Geoff, Alun & Sarah to his gig that night with The Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper at Swansea Arena. We had a great night, a brilliant gig!

The Birthplace receives no public funding, and is run as a labour of love by the Haden family and a handful of loyal volunteers. So it was wonderful to hear Johnny’s words of support and encouragement for the Birthplace, and everything we do to help tell Dylan’s story. To find out different ways to support us please click here: SUPPORT US

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Social Media Coverage of the Visit

Want to follow in both Johnny’s and Dylan’s footsteps?

Book a place on one of our Johnny Depp House Tours. Perfect for fans of Johnny who want to know more about his visit and discover the work of Dylan Thomas.

Johnny Depp in Conversation at The Dylan Thomas Birthplace

After his tour of Dylan’s Birthplace Johnny Depp took a few moments to express what the visit & the house meant to him. As you can see he initially found it hard to put into words how he felt. As a Dylan fan or ‘fiend’ in his words – the emotion of being in the place where Dylan was born, lived and wrote, was overwhelming.

Photo Gallery

Johnny Depp with the Dylan team: Alun, Sarah and Geoff

Johnny Depp with the Dylan team: Alun, Sarah and Geoff

Johnny Depp outside The Dylan Thomas Birthplace

Johnny Depp outside The Dylan Thomas Birthplace

Johnny Depp and Team Dylan outside The Dylan Thomas Birthplace

Johnny Depp and Team Dylan outside The Dylan Thomas Birthplace

Geoff, Alun & Johnny Depp in the Parlour

Geoff, Alun & Johnny Depp in the Parlour

Johnny Depp and Geoff in the front bedroom where Dylan was born

Johnny Depp and Geoff in the front bedroom where Dylan was born

Johnny Depp, Geoff & Alun in Dylan's tiny bedroom

Johnny Depp, Geoff & Alun in Dylan’s tiny bedroom

Johnny Depp at Dylan's desk

Johnny Depp at Dylan’s desk

Johnny Depp experiencing first hand Dylan's inspiration

Johnny Depp experiencing first hand Dylan’s inspiration

Johnny Depp in Dylan's kitchen. Put the kettle on!

Johnny Depp in Dylan’s kitchen. Put the kettle on!

Johnny Depp & Geoff sharing stories

Johnny Depp & Geoff sharing stories

Some kind parting words from Johnny Depp in the visitors book

Some kind parting words from Johnny Depp in the visitors book

Johnny Depp outside The Dylan Thomas Birthplace

Johnny Depp outside The Dylan Thomas Birthplace

Hollywood Vampires Gig Poster

Hollywood Vampires Gig Poster

Hollywood Vampires Gig Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry

Hollywood Vampires Gig Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry

Hollywood Vampires Gig Group Shot

Hollywood Vampires Gig Group Shot

Press Coverage

Interviews:

BBC Radio Cymru: Alun was interviewed on Dros Frecwast on 10/07/23. Interview starts at 1hr 40 mins into the broadcast. The interview is in Welsh/yn Cymraeg.

S4C: Alun was interviewed at the Birthplace for the Heno programme. Interview starts at 16min 50 secs into the broadcast. The interview is in Welsh/yn Cymraeg.

Online Coverage:

Nation Cymru: Interview with Johnny Depp at the Birthplace of Dylan Thomas

Nation Cymru: Hollywood star Johnny Depp visits the birthplace of Dylan Thomas

BBC: Johnny Depp visits Swansea birthplace of Dylan Thomas

Economic Times: Johnny Depp ‘amazed’ after visit to poet Dylan Thomas’ birthplace in Wales

Wales Online: Johnny Depp visits Dylan Thomas’ birthplace as Hollywood star comes to Wales

Bollyinside: Hollywood Star Johnny Depp Explores Dylan Thomas’ Birthplace in Wales

Daily Mail: Johnny Depp stuns residents of a quiet Welsh village by visiting the birthplace of the hell-raising poet Dylan Thomas ahead of his Swansea show

ITV: Johnny Depp ‘dumfounded’ on ’emotional’ visit to home of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas

People Magazine: Johnny Depp Visits Birthplace of Poet Dylan Thomas in Wales While Touring with Hollywood Vampires

Sky News: Johnny Depp left ‘dumbfounded’ after visit to writer Dylan Thomas’s birthplace in Swansea

Geo News: Johnny Depp surprises locals as he visits birthplace of poet Dylan Thomas

The News International: Johnny Depp delights locals of Welsh town as he visits poet Dylan Thomas’ birthplace

Hello Magazine: Johnny Depp makes surprise visit to view home in Wales

Herald Wales: Johnny Depp “dumbfounded” by visit to Dylan Thomas’ birthplace in Swansea

Metro: Johnny Depp is the ultimate tourist as he rubs shoulders with Welsh locals looking for famous poet’s birth place

RNZ New Zealand Radio: Johnny Depp visits birthplace of Dylan Thomas

BBC News: Dylan Thomas’ copy of first poetry book up for auction

Newspaper Articles:

Sunday Times 09/07/23

South Wales Evening Post 10/07/23

 

Permissions

All images and videos credits: Sarah Haden/Dylan Thomas Birthplace/@DylanThomasBirthplace
No images or videos are to be used without permission or credit.

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