20 Famous Movie Tattoos (And What They Actually Mean)

8. Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Pirates Of The Caribbean Tattoo
Disney

Role: Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow

We have already seen the relationship between gangs and tattoos can have in Once Were Warriors €“ pirates can basically be understood as being gang-members of the high seas, so it is only fitting that they too should be inked. Doubtlessly the most famous of all film pirates, Jack Sparrow has a suitably interesting tattoo to compliment his zany character.

Knowing about Johnny Depp€™s character€™s consuming lust for infamy, it is understandable that you would assume the bird on his arm is a sparrow intended to notify all those he passes by that he is the notorious captain Jack Sparrow. This is actually untrue; the bird is in fact a swallow; a traditional nautical design for a man of the high-seas who had travelled across 5,000 miles of water.

The setting sun is representative of Sparrow€™s poetic nature. Jack Sparrow has been a huge role in the career of Johnny Depp €“ indeed, the endearing-pirate proved so important to him that the actor had the exact same design tattooed on his forearm with a couple of personal alterations.

The swallow is depicted flying in the opposite direction and the writing below states his son€™s name.

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Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.