Steadman's praise for Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is "one of the easiest people to talk to you could ever imagine", according to the British cartoonist at the centre of a new documentary.

Ralph Steadman, the subject of For No Good Reason, heaped praise on the Hollywood star, who appears in the film about his work.

Speaking before the film's screening at the BFI London Film Festival, Steadman reminisced about time he spent with Depp and writer Hunter S. Thompson at the latter's home in Colorado.

"He's a lovely fellow. I met him in the Nineties. He was at Hunter S. Thompson's farm in Colorado - this was before he committed suicide of course.

"He used to turn up to see Hunter as I turned up, but I would turn up to see Hunter because we were working together doing gonzo journalism," he said.

Steadman worked with Thompson most famously on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, while Depp acted in The Rum Diary last year which was based on one of Thompson's best known novels of the same name.

Steadman couldn't quite remember all the topics of conversation the three men covered when they met up, but one thing he was certain of was Depp's great personality.

"How easy to talk to I found Johnny Depp, one of the easiest people to talk to you could ever imagine. He's so sweet and just so nice and easy going, and Hunter was always so gruff."

For No Good Reason has been 15 years in the making, and director Charlie Paul spoke of his delight at getting Depp on board. "At first it was quite daunting but Johnny is such a lovely man and such a great fan of Ralph's and he's so relaxed over at Ralph's house that it was very easy and very natural," he said.

For No Good Reason is released in the UK next year.