American actor Johnny Depp is one of the early favourites to win the Best Actor gong at the 2016 Oscar Awards – only problem is he really doesn’t want one.

Depp has been critically acclaimed for his role as Boston mob-boss Whitey Bulger in 2015 film Black Mass, fuelling speculation he’d finally bust his Oscar drought.

But speaking to the BBC, the Pirates of the Caribbean and Edward Scissorhands star said he was not hot on the idea of plaudits from the Academy.

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“I don’t want to win one of those things ever, you know,” Depp said at the Black Mass London premiere.

“I don’t want to have to talk … They gave me one of those things, like a nomination, two or three times.

“A nomination is plenty.”

His three Oscar nominations so far have been for Finding Neverland (2004), Sweeney Todd (2007) and the original Pirates of the Caribbean film (2003).

The actor – best known in Australia of late for his spat with politician Barnaby Joyce – said awards didn’t suit him because he doesn’t like “competition”.

Depp doesn’t like to compete. Although we’re sure he wouldn’t mind having Barnaby Joyce as an adversary. Photo: Getty

“The idea of winning means that you’re in competition with someone and I’m not in competition with anybody,” Depp said.

“I just stick to my guns and do what I want to do. Sometimes people don’t like it but that’s alright.”

Depp rejected assertions that his role as Bulger was a “comeback” of sorts, given his time playing Captain Jack Sparrow has polarised critics.

“What did I come back from? The dead?” he joked.

“I haven’t done anything different in this than I have in any other film.”

The 52-year-old played his role in Black Mass with trademark quirk, however he added a severe dose of creepiness and morbidness to the performance.

For now, we’ll have to wait and see if Depp wins a nomination for the Best Actor award, like the critics are tipping.