A lot has changed for Amber Heard since her defamation trial against Johnny Depp
Four years after leaving the nonstop pace of Hollywood for a quieter life in Spain’s capital, Amber Heard has reached several major personal milestones following her defamation trial against her ex-husband Johnny Depp.
The actress, who turns 40 on Wednesday (22 April), made a fresh start in Madrid after the highly public court case with Depp. New photos now offer a rare look at what her life appears to be like after she stepped away from the center of fame.
In what seems to be an effort to create more distance from her past public image, Heard has also reportedly started using a different name.
According to a previous report from El Diario de Mallorca, she apparently goes by the name Martha Jane Cannary.
That was the real name of the famous American sharpshooter Calamity Jane, a Wild West figure remembered as a bold adventurer who also had a reputation for enjoying a few drinks.
Heard does not appear to be living out the rough-and-wild image linked to that historic figure, though. Instead, her move from the United States to Spain seems to have brought a much calmer and more relaxed way of life.
Amber Heard has been enjoying theatre after leaving Hollywood behind, as demonstrated in this social media post from last yearInstagram/@amberheard
Life after Depp v Heard
Heard sold her California home in 2022, only a few months after Depp won the defamation trial that drew huge attention around the world.
After a six-week court case, a jury found that the Aquaman actress’ op-ed in the Washington Post about domestic violence included statements that were false, defamatory, and made with malice.
Depp was initially awarded $15 million in damages, though that amount was later reduced to $10.35 million.
The actress left the US after her legal battle with former husband Johnny DeppEVELYN HOCKSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Heard, meanwhile, received $2 million in damages linked to her countersuit against the Pirates of the Caribbean star, even though she lost the wider legal battle.
During the trial, she said her divorce from Depp and the fallout that followed had a major effect on her acting career. She claimed her role in Aquaman 2 was sharply reduced, and also alleged that she was ‘released from her contract’ because of their public dispute.
Her role as Mera was much smaller in the sequel. She reportedly had a total of 11 lines and about 20 minutes of screen time in the two-hour-and-four-minute movie.
Heard, pictured in Madrid in 2024, reportedly changed her name to Martha Jane CannaryFrancisco Guerra/Europa Press via Getty Images
A quieter move away from Hollywood
Heard’s move to Spain marked a clear shift from the public life she had been living in the United States, where the trial and its aftermath placed her under constant attention.
Madrid offered a different setting, away from Hollywood events, film press, and the daily focus that came with one of the most discussed celebrity legal battles in recent years.
While she has not disappeared completely from public view, her life now appears to center more on family, privacy, and occasional creative work rather than regular movie roles.
Becoming a mom
Heard, who is originally from Texas, chose to step back from the spotlight after the trial ended and moved to Spain with her daughter Oonagh Paige, whom she welcomed through a surrogate in April 2021.
The mom later announced that she had welcomed twins last year, a daughter named Agnes and a son named Ocean.
Recent photos showed Heard carrying her baby girl while Oonagh walked beside her. A friend was also seen holding her little boy as the family spent time together.
Amber Heard now lives a more private lifeInstagram/@amberheard
The family were seen exploring the Spanish town of Cadaqués during what looked like a short break.
The outing gave a rare glimpse of Heard’s life as a mother of three, far from the Hollywood spotlight that once followed her closely.
It also showed how much her public image has changed, with the focus now less on red carpets and film promotion and more on everyday moments with her children.
The mum pictured celebrating Halloween in Spain with her children last yearInstagram/@amberheard
Making a new career move
Although Heard has kept away from major movie roles since moving overseas, she did return to performing last year with a stage role in Spirit of the People, written by Jeremy O. Harris.
She received applause for her performance as ‘Genevieve’ in the production, appearing alongside Ato Blankson-Wood, Zachary Booth, Brandon Flynn, and Amandla Jahava.
Heard had announced the role in an Instagram post, telling fans that she was now ‘in her theatre era’.
Her latest Instagram update was in November 2025Instagram/@amberheard
From film roles to the stage
The stage role marked a different kind of career step for Heard after years of being best known for film work, including her part as Mera in Aquaman.
Theater also offered a more direct and smaller-scale return to acting, without the same level of blockbuster attention that often comes with major studio projects.
For Heard, the move suggested that she has not left acting behind completely, even if her career now looks very different from the years before the trial.
Although Heard has shared a few updates about her new life on social media since moving to Spain, she has not posted on Instagram since November last year.
Sharing a carousel of photos on Instagram, she wrote: “Thanksgiving cheers over the years. A look back at all the full hearts and plates I’ve shared. Hoping you are well topped up on both this year.”
Still, many of her fans continue to leave supportive comments under her most recent post, showing that even though Heard is now largely out of public view, she has not been forgotten by those who still follow her.
A new chapter in Spain
For now, Heard’s life in Spain seems to be built around a slower pace, her children, and selected creative projects rather than the constant visibility that once surrounded her.
The reported use of a different name has only added more interest to her new chapter, especially because it suggests a strong desire for privacy after years of public attention.
While her future in Hollywood remains unclear, the latest photos and updates show a very different version of Heard’s life, one shaped by distance from the spotlight and a focus on rebuilding on her own terms.