A JOHNNY Depp lookalike has said the actor’s court battle with Amber Heard has helped him get more bookings.
Simon Newton, who works as Capital Jack Sparrow lookalike, told This Morning he has received lots of bookings for private events since the court case began.
The Pirates of the Caribbean star is suing Amber Heard for libel over a 2018 article she wrote in The Washington Post which his lawyers say falsely implies he physically and sexually abused her while they were together.
Simon, from Crawley, said he feels lucky that people are able to separate the character of Jack Sparrow from the actor.
He told Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby: “A lot of my bookings are for private events, parties, that kind of thing.
“People who love Jack Sparrow are still going to book Jack Sparrow.”
He said that while interest in private appearances have increased, corporate bookings have decreased during the trial.
He said: “Where it probably affects me more are the big corporate events where people are concerned about their reputation.
“I remember when the first Sun article came out, I was doing some walkabout acting at a town centre somewhere.
“It was all quite light-hearted, but you do get the occasional comment like ‘Beat your wife as well, do you?’.”
Holly, who grew up in Brighton, asked Simon if he is finding the events and trial “a real worry for his career”.
Simon said: “So far it has been almost a positive thing because of people’s prior expectations.
“From what people have been telling me it has been a more positive thing.”
Ms Heard took to the witness box for the first time on Wednesday and tearfully described incidents of alleged violence.
On both days Mr Depp has not made eye contact with Ms Heard while she has been giving evidence.
Outside the courthouse, hundreds of fans queued to get into the building to watch the trial, some having camped overnight on the grounds – in contravention of a previous police order.
The large public interest has resulted in limited capacity for journalists also trying to get into the courtroom.
Proceedings at the Fairfax County District Court will take a break for one week, after which Ms Heard will resume giving evidence on May 16.
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