Johnny Depp says he gets depressed after each movie

NEW YORK: Hollywood star Johnny Depp has revealed he suffers from "depression" for a short period of time after filming every project.

The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor said he does not take acting "seriously" but he enjoys being in character because as a "shy person" he feels more comfortable hiding behind a different identity.

"The concept of being a 'serious actor' is the biggest oxymoron. I still can't take acting seriously, but a bit of method is a useful thing," he said.

"At the end of a production, there is always a period of depression, because I'm a shy person in life and in character I can be anything," Depp told The Times.

The 55-year-old actor, who is currently touring with his band, The Hollywood Vampires, which also features Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, said success in films is still a ''mystery'' to him as he always wanted to be a musician.

''I never left music. I never stopped playing. But I gained a certain amount of success in another field, which is still a mystery to me.

"It was my life. Then the acting thing started to happen, the band broke up, and I got a job (on '21 Jump Street') where they were going to pay me USD 1,200 a week," he said.

"The first thing I did was call my mom and say, 'Hey, you can quit your job.'" he added.

Depp also said that his movie career makes it difficult for him to have a normal life.