United Kingdom, June 22 -- Johnny Depp has "empty-nest syndrome".

The 62-year-old actor - who has Lily-Rose, 25, and Jack, 22, with former partner Vanessa Paradis - misses the days his children were still young enough to call him "Papa" and he's amazed at how quickly they have grown up.

He told the Sunday Times newspaper: "Years get away from us, don't they?... I'm of the empty-nest syndrome."

Asked if he misses having his kids around, he replied: "Oh man, my kids growing up in the south of France in their youth?

"I was Papa. I cannot tell you how much I loved being Papa. Then, suddenly, Papa was out the window. I was Dad. But Papa was awesome and I'm getting old enough for Papa to possibly come back. Some motherf***er's going to have...