Johnny Depp’s on-stage tribute to Sir Christopher Lee in 2013

Good evening. Thank you for having me, by the way.”

It’s my great honour to be here to bestow this prestigious award to a very great man, a very great man indeed.”

He’s inspired me like he has so many. He’s fascinated me like he has so many. He’s been a wonderful inspiration not only to actors and filmmakers and he’s a very special individual. Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of working with this greatest of actors and it’s been wonderful and it’s certainly been a childhood dream come true, having been a fan for so long. But as great as it’s been to work with Christopher and learn from Christopher, it pales into comparison to the honour of getting to know the man himself and to be able to count him as a dear, dear friend and someone that I care about greatly. He’s a true gentleman, he is a national treasure and moreover he is a genuine artist. I love you.”Johnny Depp’s intoduction to Christopher Lee as he welcomed Lee to the stage to be awarded the BFI Fellowship in 2013