American superstar Johnny Depp heads to JAX District in Riyadh

The award-winning actor was spotted with local artist Ahmed Mater.

Saudi Arabia will be more accustomed to seeing the American actor Johnny Depp onscreen than on their streets. However, he has recently been spotted in Riyadh as he headed to JAX District. Famous as an artistic hub, he was seen meeting with the local artist, Ahmed Mater. 

Johnny has been in the Kingdom for the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah. Running from 30 November until 9 December, it bought a line-up of international and regional stars. Fellow American actors included Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry and Will Smith. 

Johnny has made a trip from Jeddah to Riyadh, and was captured in conversation with Ahmed and admired his work. Ahmed is a physician turned artist, and used his interest in the human body to create art. His previous exhibition, Prognosis 1979-2019, reflected on the history of Saudi Arabia. Plus, Ahmed was seen showing Johnny his atomical drawings. 

Johnny hails from Kentucky, United States. In 1984, he shot to fame in the horror film, A Nightmare on Elm Street. He later appeared in Donnie Brasco, Fear, Loathing in Las Vegas, and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. Plus, he has worked closely with the film director Tim Burton, and starred in Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood and Sleepy Hollow. 

Johnny is not the only international star who has been spotted in the Kingdom. Will Smith recently shared shots of himself on social media, and he was seen admiring the Neom megaproject. Plus, MDLBeast Soundstorm 2023, which runs from 14 to 16 December, sees a long list of exciting artists descend on the capital. 

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