When Depp had the opportunity to transition into leading roles in movies he decided to work with people like John Waters, Tim Burton and Emir Kusturica. No one would have faulted him if he wanted to do dumb comedies or cop movies or whatever else, but he wanted to do work that he found interesting and challenged him as an actor.

So even putting talent aside Depp was particularly adventurous and was able to brand himself as a versatile and capable actor early in his film career. No disrespect to Luke Perry but he was no Johnny Depp.