Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, arguably Hollywood’s most famous exes, are surprisingly living similar lives since their six-week defamation trial that captivated Hollywood in the spring of 2022.
The controversial Depp v. Heard case was held in Fairfax County, Virginia, from April 11 to June 1, 2022. The dramatic proceedings were so intense that they included claims of psychological warfare by Depp’s legal team.
Ultimately, the verdict favored the Pirates of the Caribbean star more, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The public’s fascination with the case endured, nevertheless, prompting Netflix to release a documentary about the trial.
Young Amber Heard’ with husband Johnny Depp© Provided by TheThings
Both stars have since chosen remarkably similar paths, living in Europe and maintaining a low profile. Depp,who has been described as a “completely different man,” has embraced a quiet life in London, while Heard has relocated to Spain for privacy and a fresh start.
Amber Heard Found Sanctuary In Spain After Losing Her Case Against Johnny Depp
via Instagram/@amberheard© Provided by TheThings
Nearly two years after Amber Heard’s highly publicized defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp, the actress has retreated to a much more private life in Spain with her daughter, Oonagh Paige. The Depp v. Heard legal battle reached its conclusion with a verdict on June 1, 2022. The DC star was found liable on all three counts of defamation, related to her abuse allegations against her former partner in a 2018 op-ed.
In the aftermath of the trial, Heard largely retreated from the public eye, moving away from the United States and selling her home in California. She sought sanctuary in Spain with her daughter. The pair first settled in Mallorca, before later moving to Madrid in search of privacy.
A source spoke to PEOPLE Magazine about this turn of events in early 2023.
“She has been living in Spain, where she gets more privacy,” the insider said. “She feels like she gets more privacy while overseas, is treated well and can be more under the radar and just be with her daughter.”
Amber Heard and Jason Momoa© Provided by TheThings
In a TikTok video posted in May 2023, Heard–who is fluent in Spanish–told local reporters that she “loves living” in the country and planned to stay there. Despite the disappointment of the trial verdict, Heard was said to be “excited about working and filming again” as she looked to rebuild her career.
Johnny Depp Also Relocated To Europe After The Trial
Johnny Depp arrives at UK premiere of Jeanne Du Barry© Provided by TheThings
Amber Heard isn’t the only one who left the United States following the hard-fought and televised trial of 2022. According to PEOPLE, Johnny Depp also made sure to stay clear of America, as he moved residence to live in England.
Victory in his defamation case against Heard won Depp $15 million, which was later settled at $1 million. The money was disbursed to the Pirates of the Caribbean star a year after the trial verdict. Instead of keeping the money for himself, however, the actor decided to donate the entire sum to five different charities,with $200,000 going to each.
The 61-year-old then moved and started to enjoy his ‘quiet’ time in Somerset, a rural county in England.
“I just love places with character,” Depp said to Somerset Life, the local publication. “I have various houses in various places and they all mean something special to me. I don’t have them just to say I own them, I have them for use and because they are a bit special.”
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard lawyers Eliane Bredholf© Provided by TheThings
Despite Disney executives being ambiguous, Johnny Depp has made it clear he will not be returning for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’
According to one insider, Depp enjoys the anonymity that London offers: “It is more of a quiet life, but filled with painting and music,” the report explained, quoting the source close to the actor. “He’s jamming out with friends and playing solo in times when he’s not focused on filmmaking.”
Amber Heard Starred In Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom In 2023
Despite having to uproot her previous life in California, and relocating to Spain with her daughter, Amber Heard’s Hollywood career did not stop. Some fans insisted they would not watch DCEU’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2021) if she returned to the role of Mera. DC held their ground, however, and reportedly never even considered the possibility of firing Heard.
In an interview with the Deadline Hero Nation podcast, producer Peter Safran rubbished claims that the actress’ head had ever been on the chopping block. “I don’t think we’re ever going to react to pure fan pressure,” said Safran. “You gotta do what’s best for the movie.”
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s commercial and critical performance was, however, a disappointment compared to its predecessor, the original Aquaman from 2021. One reviewer from The Cosmic Circus said the movie was “so desperate to be liked that it appeals to no one.”
What Has Johnny Depp Been Up To Since 2022?
The Things© Provided by TheThings
Amber Heard and Johnny Depp Major Roles Since Their Defamation Trial
Amber Heard
Johnny Depp
Grace Victoria Burnham, In the Fire (2023)
Louis XV, Jeanne du Barry (2023)
Mera, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
Director and producer, Modi (2024)
Professionally, Depp also returned to acting, taking on several new film projects. He starred in the historical drama Jeanne Du Barry, playing the role of King Louis XV, and attended the UK premiere in London in 2023. He stepped back into directing as well, helming the Italian biographical movie Modì, which tells the story of the famous artist Amedeo Modigliani. Beyond his work in the entertainment industry, Depp has been focusing on his art, with several exhibitions of his paintings and drawings being shown around the world. He reportedly made millions from his own artwork, releasing 780 prints at the Castle Fine Art gallery in London and earning over $3.6 million within hours.
Despite the aftermath of the highly publicized legal battle, Depp and Amber Heard appear to be surprisingly navigating similar paths. Both have remained devoted to their creative passions, and embraced quieter lives in Europe.
Johnny Depp© Provided by TheThings
Johnny Depp
Birthname John Christopher Depp II
Birthdate June 9, 1963
Birthplace Owensboro, Kentucky, USA
Family Lily-Rose Depp
Height 5’10
Siblings Daniel Depp, Christi Dembrowski, Debbie Depp
Parents John Christopher Depp, Betty Sue Palmer
Profession Actor
Net worth $150,000,000
Source of Wealth Acting, CEO/Founder of INFINITUM NIHIL production company.Music group: Hollywood Vampires (Since 2012)
Nationality American
Bio
Johnny Depp, a renowned actor, with the majority of his movies bringing in over $100 million in the box office. Depp has achieved great recognition in the film industry. With three Academy Award nominations under his belt, Depp’s most iconic portrayal is that of Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s beloved Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Apart from this breakout role, Depp has also delivered exceptional performances in movies like Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Alice in Wonderland.It was in the 1984 horror film Nightmare on Elm Street that Depp was cast in his first film role. A few years later, when he began playing Tommy Hanson on the television show 21 Jump Street, he rose to prominence as an actor.
Early Life/Education
On June 9, 1963, John Christopher Depp II was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, to John and Betty Sue Depp. Both Depp’s mother and father were employed, his mother as a waitress and his father as a civil engineer.
Due to his father’s job, the family relocated frequently before finally settling in Miramar, Florida, when Johnny was 7 years old. By the age of 12, Johnny had developed a dislike for his new home and, as a result of the strain brought on by his family issues, had started smoking, dabbling in drugs, and self-harming.
When Johnny was 15 years old, his parents divorced. Johnny and his father experienced a rift as a result of the split.
Johnny quit high school when he was 16 years old and joined a garage band that was called the Kids. He then spent several months living in his friend’s car.
Career
The premiere of 21 Jump Street, a television police series starring Depp as Officer Tom Hanson, a young cop who frequently went undercover in high schools and colleges to catch troubled youths, was Depp’s professional break in 1987. The show was a success, but Depp was irritated by his portrayal as a teen heartthrob. In 1990, he left the series to star in John Waters’ Cry-Baby and Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands, two films by unconventional directors that showcased Depp’s versatility.
Scissorhands launched Depp’s long association with Burton, which led to appearances in several other Burton films, including Ed Wood (1994), Sleepy Hollow (1999), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), in which Depp played the reclusive candy baron Willy Wonka. Depp also provided the voice of the unfortunate groom in Tim Burton’s macabre animated film Corpse Bride (2005).
Depp continued showcasing his versatility with parts as a 19th-century accountant in Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man (1995) and as an FBI agent who infiltrated the Mafia in Donnie Brasco (1997). The pseudo-autobiographical novel by Hunter S. Thompson with the same title served as the basis for Terry Gilliam’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, in which Johnny Depp starred. Later, Depp was given the title role in The Rum Diary, another adaptation of Thompson’s work (2011).
In 2003, Johnny Depp starred as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, earning him his first Academy Award nomination. He later portrayed Peter Pan creator James M. Barrie in Finding Neverland (2004).
Depp reprised the role in the later Pirates of the Caribbean series, including Dead Man’s Chest (2006), At World’s End (2007), On Stranger Tides (2011), and Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). Depp re teamed with Burton for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), earning praise for his acting and singing, and receiving another Oscar nomination.
Depp starred as Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland and The Tourist, adapted from Lewis Carroll’s novels.
Johnny Depp voiced a chameleon sheriff in the 2011 animated film Rango, played an 18th-century vampire in 2012’s Dark Shadows, and played Tonto, a Native American sidekick in 2013’s The Lone Ranger.
In 2014, Johnny Depp starred in various films, including Transcendence, Tusk, and Into the Woods. He also appeared in Mortdecai, Black Mass, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Murder on the Orient Express, Sherlock Gnomes, and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. In 2020, he portrayed W. Eugene Smith, a photojournalist who documented industrial pollution in a Japanese village.
Business Ventures
Depp established Infinitum Nihil in 2004, where he assumed the roles of founder and CEO, while his sister Christi Dembrowski served as president. Additionally, apart from his acting career, Depp showcases his musical talents by being a member of the band Hollywood Vampires.
Alongside Alice Cooper and Joe Perry, Depp co-founded the band in 2015, releasing their debut studio album that same year. Impressively, Depp contributed to the songwriting process for three original tracks on the album. Following their successful debut, Hollywood Vampires released their second studio album, titled “Rise,” in June 2019.
Personal Life
Currently Johnny Depp is not in a relationship. He has had his fair share of beautiful women on his arm, though. Winona Ryder, Kate Moss, and Vanessa Paradis.
In 1999, Paradis and Depp welcomed their first child, daughter Lily-Rose Depp, followed by son Jack Depp in 2002. The couple split in 2012 after 14 years together.
Net Worth
Johnny Depp has a net worth of $150 million. He makes $20 million per film. The Management Group handled Johnny Depp’s finances for the majority of his career. In 2017, he filed a lawsuit against them, alleging “gross mismanagement and, at times, outright fraud.”
Depp accused the firm of causing him to lose tens of millions of dollars and rack up over $40 million in debt without his knowledge. He also claimed that they failed to file his property taxes on time, made unauthorized loans, and overpaid for security and other services.
Activism
Johnny Depp’s philanthropic efforts are truly commendable as he actively supports a wide range of causes. Among these causes are the Actors Fund of America, which provides support and assistance to entertainment professionals in times of need. Additionally, he shows his support for organizations like the Duesenberg Imperial Ball and Children’s Hospice, which aim to improve the lives of children facing serious illnesses.
Furthermore, Johnny Depp is involved in charitable work with organizations such as the Palliative Care Coalition and Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, advocating for quality medical care and support for those in need.
Not forgetting his love for animals, he also lends his voice to Dogs Deserve Better, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of mistreated dogs. Moreover, environmental conservation is another cause that Johnny Depp actively supports.
Controversy
The biggest controversy surrounding Johnny Depp has got to be the trial between him and Amber Heard. It was a defamation of character suit after she had accused him of being physically and emotionally violent with her.
It ended with Johnny Depp winning and the Judge ordered Amber Heard to pay him $1 million. Johnny Depp turned around and donated that money, just adding more fuel to the blazing fire.
