Pirates of the Caribbean: Every Jack Sparrow Love Interest

Surprisingly, Captain Jack Sparrow has fewer love interests than most blockbuster heroes, but who are the Pirates of the Caribbean character’s leading ladies? When The Curse of the Black Pearl arrived in cinemas in the summer of 2003, numerous factors conspired to make the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie a major hit with audiences and critics alike. There was Terry Rossio and Ted Elliott’s assured, witty script, the strong casting, the deft direction from Gore Verbinski, and The Curse of the Black Pearl’s rousing, instantly iconic score.

However, despite all of these elements playing a part in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie’s outsized success, everyone who saw The Curse of the Black Pearl knew what really made the movie stand out in a crowded release schedule. Pirates of the Caribbean’s franchise star Jack Sparrow was an inspired antihero who won over viewers and reviewers alike thanks to Johnny Depp’s campy performance. An unhinged but undeniably charismatic figure, Depp’s Sparrow became one of adventure cinema’s most beloved figures overnight after the release of The Curse of the Black Pearl.

However, Jack Sparrow was not built like most blockbuster heroes, and Depp’s idiosyncratic take on the character made him both highly popular and highly unusual for a franchise lead. For one thing, Jack Sparrow may be the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise’s protagonist, but he’s a rare blockbuster star who has surprisingly few serious love interests throughout the series. This unusual decision allowed the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise to steer clear of predictable plots wherein a wily femme fatale or helpless damsel in distress would require Jack’s assistance in each new movie. However, it has not stopped Depp’s inimitable Jack Sparrow from romancing a handful of heroines (and villains) across the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, although most of his love interests are ancillary characters with small roles or former flames who crop up in bit parts. Nonetheless, it is worth taking a look back on Jack Sparrow’s few love interests to see how the character’s love life has changed from film to film.

Giselle and Scarlett

The two ladies of the night who Jack encountered upon arrival in Tortuga, Giselle and Scarlett were two-timed by the famous pirate before the pair met one another, which led to the end of Jack’s conniving setup. Giselle and Scarlett only appear briefly in The Curse of the Black Pearl, but the duo were the stars of the 2011 tie-in short film “Tales of the Code: Wedlocked”. This short served as a prequel to The Curse of the Black Pearl, explaining why Jack’s boat is sinking at the start of the movie as well as why both women are furious when they approach him later on in the story.

Anamaria

Zoe Saldana’s supporting role as Anamaria didn’t recur throughout the rest of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but the actor nonetheless had a memorable part in The Curse of the Black Pearl. One of the more important Black Pearl crew members, Anamaria is introduced slapping Jack as Giselle and Scarlett did earlier. This prompts the antihero to admit “that one, I did deserve,” and this admission, combined with their chemistry throughout The Curse of the Black Pearl (particularly in the closing scene), may mean Jack and Saldana’s prominent pirate were once an item. However, Saldana’s decision to not reprise the role means this dangling plot thread was never canonically confirmed or denied.

Elizabeth Swann

Twice in the first two Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Elizabeth tricks Jack into thinking she’s romantically interested in him for her strategic benefit. In The Curse of the Black Pearl, getting Jack drunk on a desert island allows Elizabeth to burn the rum and send a signal fire, while in the next movie, her plan is a lot more lethal. During the climax of Dead Man’s Chest, Elizabeth acting interested in Jack allows him to kiss her on board the Pearl — only for Elizabeth to cuff him to the ship in the process, sacrificing Jack to the Kraken to save herself and the crew.

However, when Jack hands Elizabeth his compass (which magically points to whatever the holder most desires), it points to Jack, a surprise that doesn’t gel with Elizabeth’s claim that her attraction to Jack is entirely faked. This could be evidence that some level of the heroine’s affinity for Jack is genuine. However, Elizabeth and Will eventually end up together and Knightley’s heroine waits a decade for her love to return from sea, meaning her brief dalliance with Jack can’t have meant much to her in the long run.

Tia Dalma/Calypso

It is only alluded to in a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it references, but Tia Dalma (a.k.a the sea goddess Calypso) has a romantic history with Jack that explains her willingness to help the pirate out of numerous scrapes throughout the series. This one is often overshadowed by Tia Dalma’s tragic love story with Davy Jones, but the sea goddess also had a short-lived affair with Jack years before the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise’s action begins. This explains why she is invested in his revival and willing to do him favors throughout the sequels, even if their paths eventually diverged years earlier. However, Calypso’s sad (and plot-hole-ridden) Davy Jones romance makes the odds of her rekindling her romance with Jack pretty minimal.

Angelica

Despite the character being a lead for all five Pirates of the Caribbean movies, Jack Sparrow only receives a conventional love interest in On Stranger Tides. The fourth movie introduces Angelica, the daughter of Blackbeard who Jack seduced years before the sequel’s action begins. The two double-cross each other throughout On Stranger Tides, with Jack eventually stranding Angelica on a desert island when she attempts to kill him despite the pirate saving her life. Played by Penelope Cruz, Angelica is a lethal firebrand who is revealed to be the daughter of On Stranger Tides’ main villain, Blackbeard. She is never seen again after the end of the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie but is canonically still alive and plotting revenge against her former love.

About The Author

Cathal Gunning
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Cathal Gunning has been writing about movies and TV online since 2020. His obsessions include The Simpsons, Stephen King, the Scream series, and the horror genre in general. He has spent more time thinking about Stranger Things than the writers of Stranger Things, and he has never seen a Star War.

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