Saturday, 14 June 2008

Depp donates $2m to children's hospital

Johnny Depp paid a secret visit to London's Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital on Sunday - and donated $2m of his own money to thank staff for saving his young daughter's life.
The 'Sweeney Todd' star arrived unexpectedly at the hospital, where his eight-year-old daughter Lily-Rose was treated last year when her kidneys failed.
Last week, the actor - who has two children with his partner Vanessa Paradis - invited five Great Ormond Street doctors and nurses to the party for the London premiere of his film 'Sweeney Todd'.
Last November, unknown to the public, Depp spent four hours at the hospital telling bedtime stories to patients dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow after having his 'Pirates of the Caribbean' costume flown over from Los Angeles.
In March last year, Lily-Rose, Depp's oldest child, spent nine days at Great Ormond Street after E.coli poisoning led to the failure of her kidneys.
Filming at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire had to be put on hold as her condition worsened so much it was feared she might not live.
Depp, who on Sunday was named Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes for his role in 'Sweeney Todd', later said of the scare: "It was the most frightening thing we have ever been through. It was hell.
"But the magic is that she pulled through beautifully. Great Ormond Street was terrific, a great hospital."