Actress Christina Applegate has revealed in her upcoming memoir, You With the Sad Eyes, that she harbored a years-long infatuation with Johnny Depp during her teenage years. The revelation offers a candid look into the early romantic life of the Dead to Me star, marked by unrequited feelings and unexpected connections.
Early Encounters and Unacknowledged Affection
Applegate first met Depp when she guest-starred on his breakout television series, 21 Jump Street. The actress, who was 15 at the time, quickly integrated into Depp’s social circle while filming in Vancouver. Her journals from that era clearly document an intense and prolonged crush.
“One thing is very clear from the journals: I was in love with Johnny Depp for years,” Applegate wrote.
Despite her strong feelings, Depp reportedly treated her as a friend. Applegate’s entries reveal a volatile emotional state, swinging between adoration and disappointment. She acknowledges in her memoir that Depp never reciprocated her romantic interest.
Coincidental Connections
The story takes an ironic turn: after her infatuation with Depp faded, Applegate briefly dated Richard Grieco, who later replaced Depp on 21 Jump Street. The relationship was short-lived, but the coincidence highlights the intertwined nature of their early careers.
A History of High-Profile Relationships
Before marrying Martyn LeNoble in 2008, Applegate was married to actor Johnathon Schaech from 2001 to 2007. She also dated several other well-known figures, including Brad Pitt and the late Lee Grivas, whose death just months after their split profoundly impacted her.
Applegate’s memoir provides a rare glimpse into the often-unspoken realities of young love in Hollywood, where celebrity crushes and fleeting connections can shape personal histories. The book promises a raw and honest account of her life, including her struggles with multiple sclerosis, which she publicly disclosed in 2021.
The actress’s candid admission of her early fascination with Depp adds another layer to her already compelling story, reminding readers that even stars grapple with the universal experience of unrequited affection.
