Jamie Campbell Bower Is Our New Class' 'Next Johnny Depp'

'Johnny Depp has always been a massive inspiration for me,' 'Breaking Dawn' actor tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Jamie Campbell Bower
Photo: MTV News

Jamie Campbell Bower has already been swept up in the frenzy of two of Hollywood's biggest franchises ever, "Twilight" and "Harry Potter." At 22, he's settled for nothing less than A-list flicks, including "Sweeney Todd," "RocknRolla" and playing King Arthur in the miniseries "Camelot."

Thanks to his gypsy style and diverse résumé that includes films both big and small, Bower has been named "Most Likely to Be the Next Johnny Depp" by MTV Movies' New Class Yearbook. And with one Tim Burton film already under his belt, Bower is well on his way to following in the footsteps of the man who's made pirates oh so cool.

But it's what Bower is set to do next that's really going to keep the upward momentum of his career going. In addition to the closing out of the "Twilight" franchise in the next year with roles in "Breaking Dawn" parts 1 and 2, the actor will gear up to star in "The Mortal Instruments" alongside Lily Collins.

He's also a man who can mix it up and star in a period piece like next month's "Anonymous," which centers on the theory that Edward de Vere, earl of Oxford, actually wrote Shakespeare's plays. MTV's Josh Horowitz sat down with Bower recently to discuss all that's in store for the actor.

MTV: This is, like, your time. You have some really cool opportunities right now. Does it feel like this is what you've been working toward?

Jamie Campbell Bower: Well, yes. Being able to do lead roles in pictures or onstage or whatever it is that you're doing in acting is obviously what you strive for because you want to better yourself as an actor and you want to better yourself as a person as well. But that does come with a lot of responsibility and a great deal of weight. At the moment, I'm incredibly nervous and I hope I just don't f--- it up.

MTV: Your ["Mortal Instruments"] audition — I want to hear from you. Did it feel like you embraced Jace?

Bower: This was a big deal for me and so I did a lot of preparation. I sent an email out asking what the character would wear, how he would dress, and I really focused on it. I was constantly, constantly, constantly looking at the lines and looking at the words and trying to nail who this guy was. They've taken a bit of, not a risk, but to put their trust in me and give me that role is very humbling.

MTV: Are we going to see much of you in "Breaking Dawn: Part 1"?

Bower: "Breaking Dawn: Part 1"? You'll see a bit of us [the Volturi]. We're around. "Part 2" is sort of where we really "throw down," would be the correct terminology? "Part 1," for us, is a lot of menacing set dressing. I am the best out-of-focus actor that you've ever seen, aren't I?

MTV: Is there a career to emulate?

Bower: You know, Johnny Depp has always been a massive inspiration for me and he's somebody who has produced an incredible amount of work, and every single piece that he does is amazing. And he also very cleverly manages to stay himself and very much shy away from the limelight, where it could have been very easy for him to put himself in a position where his friends and his family were in danger. And that's a scary thought. I think that's the main thing, to keep focused. It's a job at the end of the day and you have a responsibility to the people you're making the film for.

For more on all the up-and-comers who make up MTV's New Class, go to NewClass.MTV.com.

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Related Videos

• MTV Movies: The New Class

AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel