Johnny Depp tells of his 'darkest period'

Actor Johnny Depp says the "darkest period of my life" was when his daughter Lily-Rose spent time at London's Great Ormond Street with kidney failure.

During an appearance on the "Graham Norton Show", the 52-year-old revealed his daughter - who he shares with his long-term ex-partner Vanessa Paradis - was admitted to the children's hospital for nine days in 2007, reports mirror.co.uk.

The now 16-year-old was treated for kidney failure caused by E.coli poisoning while Depp was filming at Pinewood Studios.

After the ordeal, he explained that he often returns to the hospital to cheer up patients dressed as his "Pirates of the Caribbean" character Captain Jack Sparrow.

The actor said: "For me it's a gift. They gave me the gift."

"When my daughter was ill in Great Ormond Street, it was the darkest period of my life. I'd always done these visits but after that experience the visits became more and more important. The kids are so courageous but to be able to bring a smile or a giggle to the parents means everything in the world to me."