Amber Heard (born April 22, 1986) is an American actress and activist. She made her film debut in 2004 in the sports drama Friday Night Lights.
Her breakthrough came with roles in the action film Never Back Down (2008) and the stoner comedy Pineapple Express (2008).
She has starred in several major Hollywood films including the action film Machete Kills (2013), the fantasy sequel Magic Mike XXL (2015), the superhero film Aquaman (2018), and the thriller The Stand (2020–2021).
In addition to her acting career, Heard has actively campaigned for causes related to human rights and gender equality. She has faced media attention and some controversy regarding her high-profile divorce from actor Johnny Depp in 2016.
| Property | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Amber Laura Heard |
| Occupation | Actress, Model, Activist |
| Birthday | April 22, 1986 |
| Birth Year | 1986 |
| Birth Sign | Taurus |
| Place of Birth | Austin, Texas, USA |
| Hometown | Austin, Texas |
| Birth Country | United States |
| First Name | Amber |
| Last Name | Heard |
| Net Worth | $500,000 (as of 2023) |
| Father | David Clinton Heard |
| Mother | Patricia Paige Heard |
| Spouse | Johnny Depp (m. 2015–2017) |
| Siblings | Whitney Heard (sister) |
| Height | 5′ 7″ (1.7 m) |
| Weight | 125 lbs. (57 kg) |
| @amberheard |
Early Life and Background
Amber Laura Heard was born on April 22, 1986 in Austin, Texas to David Clinton Heard and Patricia Paige Heard (née Parsons). She has a sister named Whitney. Her father David worked in construction, while her mother Paige worked as an internet researcher for the state.
When Heard was 16, her best friend died in a car crash. Heard, who was raised Catholic, subsequently declared herself an atheist after being introduced to the writings of Ayn Rand by her then-boyfriend. She also began questioning her sexuality around this time.
Heard attended St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin until junior year, when she left school to pursue a Hollywood acting career. She earned a diploma through a home-study course.
When she was 17, she moved from Austin to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time. She supported herself mainly through modeling gigs while taking acting classes on the side.
Career
Beginnings and Rise to Fame
Heard made her film debut as Maria in the 2004 sports drama Friday Night Lights starring Billy Bob Thornton.
Her next few film roles over the next few years included minor parts in projects such as the drama North Country (2005), the crime thriller Alpha Dog (2006), the supernatural horror The Haunting of Molly Hartley (2008) and the teen romance Remember the Daze (2007).
Her first major role came playing Kelly in the 2008 action drama Never Back Down. That same year, she played the pivotal role of Angie Anderson in the stoner action-comedy Pineapple Express, co-starring Seth Rogen and James Franco. Though not major commercial hits, both films were successful in the home video market and raised Heard’s profile in Hollywood.
Continued Success in Film
Building on her rising fame, Heard won the lead role of the CW network drama The Playboy Club in 2011.
Though canceled after only three episodes due to low ratings, Heard’s performance was well-received. She was next cast opposite Nicolas Cage in the critically panned action thriller Drive Angry (2011).
Over the next few years, Heard steadily worked in a mix of smaller and larger films in the action and thriller genres.
She co-starred with Heather Graham in the indie gangster thriller The Rum Diary (2011); with Christian Slater in Randy’s Donuts (2014), an homage to 1920s Hollywood; and with Billy Bob Thornton in the crime drama London Fields (2018).
Among her bigger studio projects, Heard played the female assassin opposite Denzel Washington in the sequel The Equalizer 2 in 2018. Other notable roles included playing Miss San Antonio in the action sequel Machete Kills in 2013 and a photographer in the magic comedy sequel Magic Mike XXL in 2015.
Breakout with Aquaman
After years as a steadily working actress with an increasing profile, Heard finally broke out as a star playing Mera opposite Jason Momoa in the DC superhero film Aquaman in 2018.
Directed by James Wan, Aquaman grossed over $1 billion worldwide, making it among the highest grossing films of 2018 as well as the highest grossing DC Comics adaptation ever at the time. Heard’s role was widely praised, cementing her star status.
On the heels of her success, Heard starred as Nadine Cross in the 2020–2021 CBS All Access post-apocalyptic drama series The Stand, based on Stephen King’s novel. She has also filmed the sports drama In the Fire and the sci-fi thriller Infinity Pool, both awaiting release as of late 2023.
Activism
Heard has stated that her activism and social impact interests took root following a 2008 trip to Central America to volunteer for Art for The World, an organization that uses art to raise awareness of issues such as poverty and gender inequality.
This experience moved her to become involved in human rights and gender equality issues as an activist and philanthropist as well as through her acting roles.
In recognition of her activism and acting bringing awareness to gender-based issues, Heard was named Human Rights Champion of the Year by the Human Rights Campaign in 2018.
She also worked for LGBTQ rights and became an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ambassador for women’s rights, focusing specifically on issues related to gender-based violence.
Personal Life
Heard publicly came out at GLAAD’s 25th anniversary event in 2010. There she announced that she would not hide her sexuality in order to further her career.
In a 2012 interview, she stated, “I don’t label myself one way or another—I have had successful relationships with men and now a woman. I love who I love; it’s the person that matters“.
From 2011 to 2013, Heard was in a relationship with artist and photographer Tasya van Ree.
In 2014, Heard began a relationship with fellow actor Johnny Depp after meeting on the set of their film The Rum Diary in 2011. They were married in a private civil ceremony at their home in Los Angeles in February 2015.
In May 2016 Heard filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in January 2017, with Heard receiving a $7 million settlement. The contentious divorce proceedings and Heard’s subsequent allegations of domestic violence against Depp attracted significant media attention.
Heard does not have children as of late 2023. Outside of acting and activism, she enjoys art, music, literature, martial arts and outdoor sports including surfing, hiking and motorcycling.
Filmography
- Friday Night Lights (2004)
- North Country (2005)
- Alpha Dog (2006)
- Remember the Daze (2007)
- Never Back Down (2008)
- Pineapple Express (2008)
- The Joneses (2009)
- The River Why (2010)
- Drive Angry (2011)
- The Rum Diary (2011)
- Syrup (2013)
- Machete Kills (2013)
- 3 Days to Kill (2014)
- Magic Mike XXL (2015)
- The Danish Girl (2015)
- One More Time (2015)
- London Fields (2018)
- Aquaman (2018)
- Her Smell (2018)
- Gully (2019)
- The Stand (2020–2021)
- In the Fire (TBA)
- Infinity Pool (TBA)
Controversies
Heard’s tumultuous divorce from Johnny Depp in 2016-2017 sparked significant media attention and controversy.
During the divorce proceedings, Heard alleged that Depp had been verbally and physically abusive during their relationship. Depp denied the claims and stated that Heard was the abuser.
The celebrity tabloid nature and salacious details of the allegations back-and-forth resulted in a firestorm of media coverage as well as a polarization of public opinion regarding which party was the true victim. Both actors claimed damage to their careers from the reputational harm.
After finalization of the divorce in January 2017, Heard dismissed the restraining order against Depp and the former couple released a joint statement saying their relationship was “intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love. Neither party has made false accusations for financial gain. There was never any intent of physical or emotional harm“.
However, a 2020 libel lawsuit filed by Depp against a British newspaper that called him a “wife beater” brought the controversy back to the forefront.
In the judgement, the UK court found that 12 of the 14 alleged incidents of domestic violence claimed by Heard had occurred and deemed the publication’s claim as “substantially true”.
The verdict was a major blow to Depp’s damaged reputation while also appearing to substantiate that Heard was in fact a victim of abuse during their marriage.
Net Worth, Salary and Finances
As of late 2023, Amber Heard has a net worth of approximately $500 thousand. The majority of her wealth has come from her earnings as an actress.
Early on much of her income came from smaller supporting roles; however, in more recent years higher profile lead roles have increased her earning potential.
Heard earned $1 million for starring as Mera in 2018’s Aquaman, though she could potentially have earned more from bonuses tied to the film’s success.
She was reportedly paid $200,000 for her role in the film London Fields. Her salary for roles in Magic Mike XXL, The Rum Diary and other mid-2010s films was likely in the low-to-mid six figures based on her stature at that time.
A notable loss to Heard’s finances came from her high-profile divorce settlement with Johnny Depp in 2017 following their 15-month marriage. The settlement amount owed to Heard was approximately $7 million.
However, about half this amount went directly to paying legal fees and other expenses related to proceedings. This left Heard with roughly only $3.5 million of the settlement actually ending up in her pocket.
Heard also faced severe financial implications from the subsequent libel lawsuits Depp filed against her. In June 2022 a jury ordered Heard to pay Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (the latter was lowered to $350k due to state law caps).
In order to avoid protracted appeals, Heard agreed to pay Depp a reduced total amount of $1 million to settle the case in December 2022. The payment and ongoing legal fees will likely wipe out much of the gains Heard had made in recent years.
Going forward for Heard to rebuild her depleted net worth, her acting career progressing into higher paying main roles will be crucial. Industry experts speculate she may earn between $2 to $4 million for the Aquaman sequel due to her increased prominence.
However, damage to her reputation from legal issues could hamper career momentum. As such, a return to her previous height of a $6 to $8 million net worth could be dependent on putting controversy behind her.
Legacy and Impact
While Heard’s acting career continues to evolve, her public image and impact has become notable primarily due to the visibility and debate over her accusations of domestic violence against Johnny Depp as well as her broader activism bringing attention to related issues.
Though details remain contentious regarding allegations of abuse within their relationship, the high-profile libel lawsuit verdict finding substantial truth to Depp committing acts of domestic violence validates Heard’s core claims of being a victim.
As such, Heard has become a polarizing figure often discussed in the context of the Me Too movement as a woman speaking out on gender-based issues ranging from domestic abuse to inequality in Hollywood.
Despite controversy regarding her credibility and accusations of being motivated by financial gain, her bold lawsuit and unfiltered speaking out undeniably brought mainstream focus to the serious cultural issue of intimate partner violence.
Love her or hate her, Amber Heard played an outsized role sparking an international conversation regarding domestic abuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Amber Heard in a relationship with before Johnny Depp?
Heard dated artist Tasya van Ree from 2008 to 2012. Their split was reportedly amicable.
Did Amber Heard date Elon Musk?
Yes, Heard and Musk reportedly dated on and off from 2016 to early 2018 after meeting on the set of Machete Kills.
What movies has Amber Heard been in with Johnny Depp?
Heard and Depp worked together on the 2011 film The Rum Diary. Sparks flew between the co-stars, and they began dating in 2012 before getting married.
Did Heard have a role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies?
No, Heard has not appeared in any of the Pirates of the Caribbean films that star her former husband Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow.
What happened between Heard and Elon Musk?
Heard and Musk had a relationship for several years but ultimately broke up in 2018. They have reportedly remained friends.
Has Amber Heard been married before?
Yes, Heard was briefly married to fellow actor Johnny Depp from 2015-2017 before a messy divorce and legal battles stemming from domestic abuse allegations.
Is Amber Heard dating anyone now?
Heard’s current relationship status is unclear, but she has not been publicly confirmed to be dating anyone since her 2018 split from Musk.