Following a high-profile defamation trial, actress Amber Heard has established a quiet life in Madrid, Spain, where she is raising her three children and has largely withdrawn from the public eye. Heard, once a prominent Hollywood figure known for her role as Mera in the DC Extended Universe, relocated to Spain to focus on solo parenting and distance herself from the intense media scrutiny that followed the legal proceedings.
Heard is raising her daughter Oonagh, born in April 2021 via surrogate, and her twins, Ocean and Agnes, born in May 2025. She has stated her desire to parent "on my own terms" and "without a ring," emphasizing her independence in building her family. The actress initially sought refuge in Mallorca after settling a defamation lawsuit with her ex-husband Johnny Depp in December 2022, reportedly renting a property under the pseudonym Martha Jane Cannary. She then settled in Madrid, a move described by sources as a calculated effort to start fresh and distance herself from the fallout of the trial.
Her current life in Madrid is characterized by a commitment to privacy. She reportedly purchased a home in the affluent Chamartin district, a neighborhood known for its integration of millionaires, politicians, and athletes, where neighbors describe her as keeping a low profile. She is often seen in casual attire, using a cap and sunglasses, and neighbors note that she has integrated into the community, with locals largely unaware of her celebrity status.
Heard has made efforts to embrace Spanish culture, reportedly learning the language, which she has demonstrated in public interactions. Her daughter Oonagh attends a private school in Madrid that offers bilingual education. The actress is also frequently seen with her children at local spots, including the Taste of America supermarket, where she purchases items reminiscent of home.
Professionally, Heard has taken a hiatus from acting since the widely publicized trial. Her last released films, which were shot prior to the trial, received poor reception. Some industry insiders suggest she may have faced a career setback following the legal battle. However, she has engaged in artistic endeavors, including a stage debut in the premiere production of Jeremy O. Harris's "Spirit of the People" at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in August 2023. She also brought her twins out in public for the first time on Halloween that year, sharing photos of the event on social media.
Recent public appearances include participating in the KLM Norte Sur 10k race in Madrid with her daughter in June 2024. Despite her efforts to move on, Heard has spoken about the lasting impact of the 2022 defamation trial. In the documentary "Silenced," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, she expressed a sense of having lost her voice due to the public backlash, stating, "I am not here to tell my story. In fact, I don't want to use my voice anymore."
Heard and Depp's legal entanglement began when Depp sued Heard for defamation over a 2018 Washington Post op-ed in which she described experiencing domestic abuse. While she did not name Depp, his legal team argued the piece implied he was an abuser. The Virginia trial concluded in June 2022 with the jury awarding Depp $10 million in compensatory and $5 million in punitive damages, while Heard was awarded $2 million on her counterclaim. The parties reached a settlement in December 2022, with Heard stating she made the difficult decision to settle to "emancipate myself from something I attempted to leave over six years ago" and that the vilification she faced online was an "amplified version of the ways in which women are re-victimized when they come forward."