Johnny Depp Makes Surprise Appearance at BFI London Film Fest

Johnny Depp and Sir Christopher Lee most recently worked together on “Dark Shadows” but they share more than a professional relationship: they are also good friends. Depp surprised Lee over the weekend by presenting him with an award at the BFI London Film Festival.

The Hollywood Reporter notes that Depp wasn’t announced as presenter before the event, even if it’s customary to do so. Moreover, to make this an even bigger surprise for Lee, producers told him that Depp was on location somewhere in Europe and he couldn’t be there.

When Depp walked on stage, he held a brief speech about Lee, calling him a “great man, a very great man indeed,” “a true gentleman,” “a national treasure” and “a true artist.”

He ended it with a simple “I love you,” which moved Lee to tears. The iconic actor got a standing ovation before his acceptance speech, which he strove to keep short.

“It is a very emotional moment for me as you can probably hear,” he said. He also praised Depp as one of the few artists now working in the industry, and described him as any director or co-star’s dream collaborator.