Johnny Depp’s character was modeled after some very strange real-life inspirations. The 1990 Tim Burton film was the eccentric director’s fourth feature effort, and not only was it a box office and critically acclaimed hit, but it also gave Depp’s career a massive boost. Several more arrived in the years following the film’s release, but for many fans, nothing could beat Edward Scissorhands.

In Burton’s inimitable style, Edward Scissorhands told the story of Edward (Depp), a man with scissors for hands who is left all alone after the inventor who created him passes away. One day Edward is brought into the lives of a suburban family and from that point onward, everything changes for him, the family that took him in, and the entire suburban community. The film took the fish-out-of-water concept and turned it on its head, with Edward’s unique personality and soft-spoken nature providing plenty of laughs. But beneath the humor, there’s also a very distinct sadness to Edward’s life and the film as a whole. Audiences instantly fell in love with the character, and to this day, Edward Scissorhands remains one of the most heartfelt and endearing films of .

With his career currently shrouded in uncertainty over a lengthy and messy dispute with ex-wife Amber Heard, Depp has been noticeably absent from the big screen in recent years. At present, the 58-year-old is embroiled in a libel suit against Heard, and after five days of trial, Depp has at last begun to give his testimony. According to Court TV journalist via his official Twitter account, Depp has revealed several things about his personal life and career, with the star saying that his Edward Scissorhands character was a cross between a baby and one of his dogs. Check out the complete tweet below:

Though it might sound strange to base a character on such seemingly random choices, anyone who has seen the film can surely understand the connection. Edward is a very kind person who, above all, wants to fit in and please others. He’s also extremely naïve, with no real-world experience until he comes to the suburbs. Even then, his experiences are still very limited. and turn them into something that worked in a big way is a testament to his skill as an actor. Alone and in need of family and friends, Edward can’t take care of himself and finds navigating life in the real world to be quite daunting.

As previously stated, in recent years, Depp’s employability as an actor has become something of a liability. After being dumped from the franchise and replaced by Mads Mikkelsen, it feels as though the once-beloved star has reached the end of the line. It’s difficult to say what will happen next in , but for those who simply want to appreciate the work Depp brought audiences long before his personal and legal troubles began, insight into his Edward Scissorhands role is a great place to start.