Johnny Depp accepts Serbian Medal of Honor, Belgrade , February 15th 2022

The Golden Medal for Merit is awarded to... Johnny Depp, an American actor, for outstanding achievements in public and cultural activities, especially in the field of film art, and the promotion of the Republic of Serbia in the world. This is a very, an extremely proud moment for me. Well, I have a little story. Dear Mr. President, Excellencies, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, to the people of Serbia, the many artists, the filmmakers, the storytellers who make up what is a very flourishing creative community, I've had the opportunity to, well, I was blessed a long time ago, many years ago, when I met a very strange man who I instantly looked at and went, he doesn't belong in Hollywood, this man. His name was Emir Kusturica. And Kusturica, Emir became a brother, his family became my family, I watched his children grow up, and it's been the same exact bond that we've had since the very first day. And that says a lot about a person, especially someone like Emir. He loves you, he loves you. If he doesn't love you, he really doesn't love you. I love that about Emir, that he makes no bones. He speaks his mind, and he believes in now, which is something else I learned from this beautiful country, is that the purpose, of course, is work and bring work, bring aid, bring jobs. I certainly want to do that as much as I possibly can, especially with Emir. But what's beautiful here is that people think of life first. It's more about the moment of now than it is about anything. It's the celebration of now with the warm souls that I've met here in this country. And having had the pleasure to do that with Emir, but also to make a film here with a crew that I thought were spectacular, never once tired, even though everybody was exhausted, never once complained, they were perfection. And I believe that there's a lot of talent here that's still to be found, and I look forward to taking part and being a part of that, I hope. Thanks. I truly, sincerely thank you, President Vucic. And this Medal of Merit, if I am given the honor to walk away with this, and you've been kind enough to bestow it upon me, I will stay true to it and I will do everything in my power to make this the embodiment of my commitment here. I do have a fierce passion for pretty much everything here. Civapcici, of course. Somebody told me something about Slivovitz, but I've never had that before. Not really. Maybe once. I've been given nothing but gifts in just my experiences here in Serbia, with the people that I've worked with, with the people who have given me a new life like Emir. I'm right now on the verge of a new life, and I like it, I like a re-beginning. And I would love for that beginning to start here in Serbia, if you'll have me. So, thank you again. Bless you, I am truly honored. And I'm scared. Just kidding. I don't know what else to say. I'm not a good talker. But from the bottom of my heart, from the very core of me, I humbly, in great humility, accept this huge honor, and I will never let it down. So, thank you. Bye-bye.