Johnny Depp is without doubt one of the most popular actors of his generation, a handsome, talented, charismatic leading man who has proven that he carries the panache and pomp to front hit movies time and time again.

It doesn’t seem all that long ago that Depp was the young poster boy of Hollywood, a captivating figure with deep brown eyes, chiseled cheekbones and a cocksure manner that stole the hearts of the masses.

Which is why I was quite taken back when I realized the other day that the Pirates of the Caribbean star is now 60 years old! Of course, it’s not lost on me that we humans all age at the same pace, but I had to stop for a moment to process the information.

I guess what makes celebrities aging all the more peculiar is that they do it in front of our eyes, even though in most instances we’ve never met them.

Those true, bonafide A-listers who are able to enjoy success in the big leagues for decades often enter the game as young, fresh-faced newcomers, then mature over time, getting older with each role they take on.

Not only that, but given the vast libraries of photos taken of celebrities over their years in the spotlight – there’s got to be hundreds for virtually every event or red carpet they attend – it’s easy to look back at the journey said star has gone through as he or she has aged.

Now, we’ll make it clear right now that there is absolutely nothing strange or ridicule-worthy about getting older. As we age, our appearances naturally change to reflect the years we’ve lived, and it’s no different for celebrities, irrespective of how much money they spend on surgeries or groundbreaking new lotions to keep themselves looking as young as possible.

Perhaps that’s why it’s so strange when fans feel the need to make a big deal about a certain celebrity’s aged appearance. Nevertheless, it’s something that happens often. It’s one thing to express an opinion about botched Botox, or to praise another’s efforts if they’ve shed weight in a bid to stay healthy, but quite another to make remarks about how an individual looks compared to how they maybe did while in their youth.

In any case, Johnny Depp recently became the subject of an internet discussion after a little-known picture of the actor from 2022 surfaced. The image in question was shared to Instagram by guitarist and artist Micki Free, but ended up with a boat load of comments arguing that Depp is no longer the heartthrob he once was.

“Doesn’t even look like the same person! Wow!” one person wrote of Depp.

“That doesn’t even look close to Johnny. Is that the original one?????” another said.

A third added: “Is it really [him]? Omg. That’s sad.”

A fourth, meanwhile, said: “Wow…he used to be good-looking and masculine.”

Depp was actually a two-time recipient of People’s Sexiest Man Alive title – once in 2003 and then again in 2009 – reflecting his status as a sex symbol the world over.

In more recent years Depp has withdrawn from Hollywood, taking up residence in England, where he feels like he can be himself without the constant flashing of cameras.