After Johnny Depp’s highly publicized and controversial divorce, his ex-wife faced intense public scrutiny for alleged private matters while he garnered widespread support. As he maintains a high-profile presence in the media, she has chosen a path of relative obscurity, leading a contrasting life away from the public eye.
Actor and musician Johnny Depp has been married twice, and both marriages ended in divorce. After the divorce, one of his exes had to leave the country and even once used a false name.
His second marriage lasted for only two years, between 2015 and 2017. However, the couple had been together for five years, and people were shocked when they exposed details of their relationship during a court battle. This led to never-ending lawsuits and a dragged-out divorce battle.
The exes ultimately reached a divorce settlement out of court, and they released a joint statement that read, “Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain.”
Johnny Depp at the film premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” 2017 | Source: Getty Images
Depp and his now-former wife divulged that there was “never any intent of physical or emotional harm” during their relationship. The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star was required to pay the actress $7 million in settlement, and she would donate the money to charity.
The ex-spouse, who wished Depp the best for the future, did not state how much and to which charity she would donate the financial proceeds from the divorce.
Things later went haywire between the two public figures when she defamed him in a 2018 Washington Post opinion piece in which she accused him of domestic abuse. However, the female celebrity did not name the musician per se.
Still, she was found guilty of defamation and was asked to pay Depp over $10 million in damages, but this amount was reportedly negotiated, and they settled for $1 million. An insider revealed that Depp would not keep the money as he planned on donating it to five charities of his choice.
Johnny Depp’s ex-wife seen leaving her new home on May 11, 2023, in Madrid, Spain. | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, his ex-wife, Amber Heard, was vilified by the public during the six-week defamation trial that captured global attention. The intense scrutiny led her to leave her Hollywood life behind and move to another country in 2022.
The actress and producer reportedly received death threats during the trial and became the subject of bashful internet memes. A source disclosed, “She just had to get out of the US. It felt like too much chaos.”
At the time, Heard lived in the California desert town of Yucca Valley. After losing the case, she sold her home there for a reported $1.1 million, trading her public life for a quieter one in Spain.
The film star initially relocated to Mallorca, the largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands. There, she reportedly rented a home under a false identity — going by the name Martha Jane Cannary. This is the name of the American frontierswoman, sharpshooter, and storyteller known as Calamity Jane.
Amber Heard during the defamation trial at the Fairfax County Circuit Court on April 21, 2022, in Fairfax, Virginia. | Source: Getty Images
This was before Heard settled in an upscale neighborhood of Madrid, where the activist reportedly gets more privacy. A source close to her later revealed why she disappeared from Tinseltown.
“The trial was beyond stressful, and she wanted to start fresh,” the insider explained, adding that Heard now “has new energy and is focused on things that she loves.”
This includes cherishing life with her loved ones, especially her only child. Seeking a fresh start, Heard settled into a new life abroad with her daughter, whose father’s identity she has never revealed.
The blonde beauty welcomed Oonagh Paige via surrogate in April 2021 and a source said the first-time mom was “beyond in love” with her daughter upon birth. The actress named her child after her late mother, Paige.
Friends previously revealed that the “Aquaman” star could not carry her own kids. After longing to be a mother, she is grateful to the woman who helped bring her daughter into the world.
Aside from being a loving parent, Heard is also a doting pet owner. In December 2021, she showed off her new dog in an Instagram post, writing, “Meet the newest member of the Heard family, Barnaby Joyce!”
The 38-year-old seems to be relishing her new life abroad. In June 2023, she was publicly seen on the sidewalk answering questions from local reporters in Spanish.
Heard expressed her love for the country, and when asked if she planned on staying there, she said, “Yes, I hope so. Yes, I love living here.” Asked if she had any movie projects in the pipeline, the Texas native confirmed that she did, adding, “I move on. That’s life.”
Amber Heard at Taormina Film Festival on June 24, 2023 in Taormina, Italy. | Source: Getty Images
Since the trial, she has starred in films such as “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and “In the Fire.” In October 2023, the director of “In the Fire,” Conor Allyn, shared that Heard is “living her best life in Spain with her daughter and just finding happiness in that way.”
The mother of one was also publicly spotted makeup-free in Madrid while out for a jog in April 2024. She wore a matching navy blue running gear and styled her hair in a ponytail.
Although she disappeared from the limelight, Heard last made a public statement in January 2024 when she thanked her social media followers for supporting her “Aquaman” sequel. Despite being torn apart due to the defamation case against Depp, she still has a fanbase that continues to rally behind her.
In July 2023, she posted a photo of her surrounded by people, including individuals from the media. In her caption, she wrote, “What a reception… Thank you to all of my fans and supporters. I am so touched.”
While Amber Heard has had to leave her public life behind after receiving harsh criticisms, her ex-husband has moved on and continues to live his life in the spotlight.
Months after the verdict ruled in his favor, Depp traveled to Europe to play shows with guitarist Jeff Beck, who has since sadly died. He also filmed the French historical drama, “Jeanne du Barry,” which successfully debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023.
An insider at the time revealed, “He feels incredibly lucky to do what he loves.” Upon his big screen return at the film festival, Depp became emotional over a seven-minute standing ovation and was reportedly “taken aback” by the warm response.
A clip from the prestigious event saw the Golden Globe Award winner waving to the crowd and embracing his colleagues. Depp was later asked during a press conference whether he felt boycotted by Hollywood following his highly publicized legal battles with Heard.
“Do I feel boycotted now? No, not at all. But I don’t feel boycotted by Hollywood because I don’t think about it. I don’t think about Hollywood. I don’t have much further need for Hollywood myself,” said the three-time Academy Award nominee.
After his appearance, an insider divulged that he was “doing fantastic.” Besides his well-being and a noteworthy comeback, Depp’s dating life also became a subject of discussion with an interesting revelation.
He was rumored to be dating a London lawyer named Joelle Rich. She was one of his attorneys from his UK libel case against The Sun, which the award-winning star lost in 2020. “They are dating but it’s not serious,” a source revealed in 2022.
Rich made several court appearances during Depp’s legal suit against Heard. Although she was not part of his legal team at the time, she merely went to show him support.
Joelle Rich and Johnny Depp during an afternoon recess outside court at Fairfax County Circuit Court on May 3, 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. | Source: Getty Images
Apart from his headline-hogging romantic life, Depp now lives a secluded life in a mansion situated in Somerset, England. In 2023, the showbiz star revealed that he prefers a quiet life where he resides on an 850-acre estate.
Depp reportedly purchased the 19th-century, Downton Abbey-style mansion in 2014. Located in the West Country, the property boasts 12 bedrooms and eight bathrooms. It also has sprawling walled gardens.
Of his way of life, the Kentucky native admitted that he is not that much of an extrovert that everyone believes he is. Living away from the prying eyes of Hollywood, he enjoys the freedom to be himself without the constant worry of being bombarded by the public while in Somerset.
This does not mean that he barely goes out. He enjoys visiting places and seeing and meeting other people. Johnny Depp was recently seen leaving a high-end London restaurant in a rare public outing.
However, the sighting sparked various mixed reactions from online users. While he was dressed to the nines for the outing, some people criticized Depp’s appearance.
They said the 61-year-old looked old and ugly, while others noted that he should be at a nursing home instead of out partying. However, some people gushed over the two-time BAFTA Award nominee, saying he still looks attractive. They also wanted him to live his best life as he deserved it.