Well it sure beats the flu. Johnny Depp told reporters in Japan that the reason he had missed a press conference the day before was because he had been attacked by a chupacabra.

The 51-year-old actor – who has been making news for his odd behaviour of late – kept 200 journalists waiting at the publicity event for his new film Mortdecai in Tokyo on Tuesday January 27.

Johnny showed up a day later and according to the Associated Press, told reporters: “I was attacked yesterday morning by a very rarely seen or experienced animal called ‘chupacabra’.

“I fought with it for hours. They’re very persistent, very mean. And I’m pretty sure it came into my suitcase. I threw him off the 23rd floor. So we’ll never see him again. Thank you for understanding.”

The chupacabra is a legendary creature rumoured to inhabit parts of the Americas, attacking and drinking the blood of livestock.

Johnny managed to raise a laugh from the room of reporters, and also admitted he had had a cold.

Asked how the title character in his new film would have coped with the creature, Johnny replied: “He would probably say something like ‘How do you do?’. My name is Charlie Mortdecai and I’ve come here to take as much money from you as I possibly can, and jewellery and art and stuff’.”

Mortdecai, an eccentric heist comedy which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Ewan McGregor, has faired badly at the box office so far, making an estimated 9.3 million dollars at the weekend (£6.1 million).

Johnny has a huge fan base in Japan and said he hopes the film will be received well in the country.