Janelle Monáe says she's inspired to play 'transformative' characters just like Johnny Depp in the future

• Janelle Monáe said she's inspired by Johnny Depp's "vast" number of iconic roles.
• Deadline reports the singer opened up about her career at the London Film Festival on Friday.

Janelle Monáe said she's inspired by Johnny Depp, but only by his "life as an actor," according to Deadline.

During a keynote talk at the London Film Festival on Friday, Monáe opened up about her career as a musician and actress, touching on the kind of roles she'd like to portray.

"When I think about careers, this person as an actor, his life an as an actor only, Johnny Depp has a very vast career," she said, per Deadline. "The amount of roles: Willy Wonka to Sweeney Todd to all of the dramatic roles."

The outlet reports that Monáe's comment about Depp was met with some groans from the audience. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor has become a controversial figure since his highly publicized defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard, who he was married to from 2015 to 2017.

Monáe noted she wants to take on "the Janelle Monáe version" of Depp's career — and aspires to portray iconic and lasting characters.

" ... I want to be able to do those sorts of like transformative characters that people are dressing up as for Halloween. Something grounded but embedded in the hearts and minds of children forever."

The singer, who starred in "Hidden Figures" and the Oscar-winning film "Moonlight," also compared herself to the late David Bowie, who was known to mix his work as an actor and musician.

"I've always had a world-building mind," she said. "I never saw my music career as something that should limit this. David Bowie did these things, so why can't I do these things?"

When asked at the end of the panel if she would be interested in directing someday, she said she would "absolutely" take on the challenge — with one caveat.

"I want it to be something I write, but I'm super open if it's something I can co-write or collaborate with someone on. I know that I'm supposed to direct," Monáe said. "I'm trying to create a world where that happens."

Representatives for Monáe did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.