‘Love Actually’: The Truth About Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s Love Story

Many untold details about Hollywood’s most scandalous divorce are revealed in the new book “Hollywood Vampires”, according to News Australia.

It’s been nearly a decade since Amber Heard first filed for divorce from Johnny Depp, one of the most talked-about splits in Hollywood history.

In the ensuing bitter feud, the pair accused each other of violence and drug addiction, with sensational stories of Depp cutting off his own finger to scribble on a mirror. Heard, meanwhile, was accused of urinating in bed (a fault which Heard blamed on their dogs, Pistol and Boo).

These and many other shocking details were uncovered by journalists Kelly Loudenberg and Makiko Wholey, and now they’re dissecting them in their new book, Hollywood Vampires: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard And The Celebrity Exploitation Machine from HarperCollins.

In an interview with Fox News Digital , Loudenberg said there was genuine love between the couple before the divorce became a media sensation.

“We tried to incorporate that into the story,” the author shared. “We felt they had a true love for each other. There was a special connection between them, which made the story even more tragic and sad.”

The Dream Start

Her co-author, Wholey, added: “The raw emotion and the complete rejection are probably why the story is so explosive. It seems like they really did love each other for a while. But it’s set in Hollywood, where intrigue twists everything. It’s hard to find lasting love in a hopeless place.”

The beginning of their love story is a classic Hollywood trope, in which a famous older actor falls for a much younger co-star. Depp, now 62, and Heard, 39, met on the set of the 2011 film The Rum Diary.

They married in 2015 on Depp’s private island in the Bahamas, where they enjoyed an intimate celebration of dinner, dancing and drugs with their closest friends. Depp’s son Jack was present at the wedding, but his daughter, actress Lily-Rose, refused to attend.

The couple’s lawsuit has consumed a lot of press. Photo: News Au.

To the “face-tearing” scandal

Fifteen months later, Heard filed for divorce. Heard launched a barrage of criticism, even making the Brangelina legal battle look good in the public eye.

Depp lost the first round when a judge found that 12 of the 14 incidents in which Depp allegedly assaulted Heard had occurred. The ruling led to the Pirates of the Caribbean star being fired from the Harry Potter spin-off, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore .

The American actor later sued Heard for $77 million over an op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post , in which she claimed to be a victim of domestic violence. Heard countersued Depp for $154 million .

The jury in the case sided with Depp, awarding him more than $23 million in damages . But he was also found guilty of defamation of Heard through his lawyer, and was ordered to pay $3 million.

The trial was broadcast live. Depp’s ex-girlfriend, actress Ellen Barkin, was present in court and private messages between Depp and Paul Bettany, who used drugs with Depp, were also shared publicly.

The case was so popular that crowds of spectators gathered outside the courthouse every day. Some people even arrived hours early to line up for a good spot inside the courtroom.

During her evidence in court, Heard spoke of being the focus of attention: “I was harassed, humiliated, threatened every day. Even coming into this courtroom, sitting here in front of the world, going through the worst time of my life to say what I went through, was humiliating. People wanted to kill me and they told me that every day.”

Heard has now disappeared from public view, having moved to Spain to raise her three children alone. Depp, on the other hand, is on the comeback trail.

His first major Hollywood film since the trial, Day Drinker , alongside his Pirates co-star Penelope Cruz, is in production.

However, with his once-shining reputation tarnished, it remains to be seen how Depp’s comeback will pan out.