"I have been friends with Javier for the longest time. I have kissed him on the mouth and even his wife," Depp joked about his co-star of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge".
"But seriously, I would say that he has played the character with so much rage and yet made it so touching. It is wonderful and a great gift to work with such a cast," Depp, 53, told reporters during a press conference of the film here.
The Hollywood star has previously worked with Bardem on "Before Night Falls", about gay Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas while Cruz played Angelica, Captain Jack Sparrow's former love interest in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".
The Spanish star does not mind playing such characters as long as they are powerful.
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He will be seen as Captain Armando Salazar in the fifth film. Salazar, a notorious pirate hunter, who has been resurrected with his crew as the undead, will be seen seeking revenge against Depp's Sparrow.
Bardem, 48, joked that producer Jerry Bruckheimer lured him with the promise that his role will be "hotter" than his character in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", where he played a flirtatious artist.
"But I loved to play this role. I love to play roles that are powerful. To have that on you is very nice. I enjoyed creating this character. I took three hours to do make-up, but is is ok," Bradem said.
Australian star Geoffrey Rush, who is also returning to the franchise for the fifth time, compared the relationship between his character of Captain Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow as an "ongoing bickering".
Depp, on his part, called it a husband-wife like relationship.
"Yes, it is a husband and wife relationship. We have been playing with our relationship for over so many years."
Directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, the Disney film also stars Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Kevin McNally and Orlando Bloom. It releases on May 26.
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