NEW YORK, April 4 (UPI) -- Johnny Depp still hasn't gotten used to fame, and says being a celebrity is akin to "living like a fugitive."

The notoriously private star appeared in an interview Friday on Today to discuss his new film, Transcendence. The 50-year-old actor also confirmed his engagement to 27-year-old model and actress Amber Heard, after rumors of the pair's commitment were left unanswered for months.

"Everything has to be some sort of a strategy," Depp says of life in the spotlight. "[It's] a little bit like liking like a fugitive... To get you into the hotel, to get you out of the hotel, to get you into the restaurant, to get you out of the restaurant."

The actor takes care to acknowledge his fans, and says he is "honored" by their support and loyalty. He affirms he will always be there for them, "because those people that buy the tickets are the people that I consider my boss."

Depp portrays artificial intelligence researcher Dr. Will Caster in his new movie, Transcendence. The film marks longtime cinematographer Wally Pfister's directorial debut, and is produced by Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas.

Caster is a researcher whose mind is uploaded to his project's computer after he suffers an injury. The machine possesses sentience and collective intelligence abilities, and extremists opposed to technological advancement attempt to stop Caster and the computer.

The actor admits that his role in the sci-fi thriller had little effect on his own technological skills.

"I'm a complete and utter oaf," Depp says of his attempts to text message. "A grown man...attempting to send an important message with these thumbs? You know, it's truly given meaning to the expression, 'I'm all thumbs.'"

Transcendence debuts in theaters on April 17.

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Johnny Depp says being famous is like being a 'fugitive'