:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Amber-Heard-Spain-100626-3842290627224ad28a1fa90553681f39.jpg "Amber Heard in 2026: Career, Aquaman Role, Legal Battle and Life in Spain")
Amber Heard remains best known for playing Mera in the DC films Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, while her career was heavily affected by the highly publicized legal dispute with former husband Johnny Depp. The 2022 Virginia defamation case ended with a jury largely finding in Depp’s favor, while Heard also won part of her countersuit; the parties later settled the case in December 2022.
In the years since, Heard has maintained a much lower public profile and has been living in Spain. In 2025, she announced the birth of twins, Agnes and Ocean, joining her older daughter Oonagh. In 2026, she has occasionally shared glimpses of her life in Spain, including participating in running events, while remaining selective about her acting work.
Introduction
Amber Heard’s career has gone through several very different phases.
The American actress became internationally recognizable after joining the DC film universe as Mera, the powerful Atlantean character who appeared alongside Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry in Aquaman. She reprised the role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023.
But her professional life became closely tied to one of the most widely followed celebrity legal disputes of the decade when she and her former husband, actor Johnny Depp, faced each other in a high-profile defamation trial in Virginia in 2022.
The case generated enormous media and social-media attention. A jury found Heard liable for defamation on claims brought by Depp and awarded him damages, while Heard also won one part of her countersuit. The two actors later reached a settlement in December 2022, bringing the Virginia litigation to an end.
Since then, Heard has largely stepped away from the level of Hollywood publicity that surrounded her during the trial. She moved to Spain and has focused heavily on raising her children while continuing to make selective professional appearances.
Her life in 2026 looks considerably different from the period when she was one of the most closely watched actors in Hollywood.
What Happened to Amber Heard?
Amber Heard did not disappear completely from the entertainment industry after the Depp legal battle, but her public presence changed significantly.
Her most recent major studio appearance before this quieter period was as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, released in 2023.
The film officially featured Heard alongside Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman. Heard returned as Mera, the Queen of Atlantis and mother of Arthur Curry’s heir.
Her role became a major subject of public discussion before the film’s release because of the controversy surrounding her legal dispute with Depp.
Heard testified during the 2022 trial that her role in the sequel had been reduced. Warner Bros. and director James Wan, however, gave a different explanation for the structure of the sequel, emphasizing its focus on Arthur Curry and his brother Orm.
The final film did include Heard as Mera.
Since that release, Heard has generally kept a lower profile and spent more time outside the Hollywood spotlight.
Key Details About Amber Heard in 2026
Several facts help explain where Heard stands today:
- She became internationally known for films including Aquaman.
- She played Mera in Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
- She was involved in a major defamation lawsuit with Johnny Depp in 2022.
- The Virginia jury largely ruled in Depp’s favor while also awarding Heard damages on one part of her countersuit.
- Heard and Depp settled the case in December 2022.
- Heard moved to Spain following the legal battle.
- She became a mother of three after welcoming twins in 2025.
- She has maintained a comparatively private life in Spain.
- In 2026, she has occasionally appeared publicly through personal activities such as running events.
- She has not announced a permanent retirement from acting.
These developments show that Heard’s current life is not simply a continuation of her pre-trial Hollywood career.
Amber Heard’s Acting Career
Amber Heard began building her acting career through smaller film and television roles before gradually moving into larger productions.
She appeared in movies including Pineapple Express, Never Back Down, The Joneses, Drive Angry and The Rum Diary.
Her career expanded further with roles in films such as Magic Mike XXL and The Danish Girl.
She also appeared in television projects, including The Stand, the adaptation of Stephen King’s novel.
However, the role that dramatically increased her international profile was Mera in the DC film universe.
Amber Heard as Mera in Aquaman
Heard first played Mera in Justice League before taking on a much larger role in Aquaman in 2018.
In the first Aquaman, Mera is an important ally of Arthur Curry and becomes central to his journey toward accepting his role in Atlantis.
The character is portrayed as a warrior and political figure rather than simply a romantic partner.
The official DC description of the film identifies Heard as Mera and describes her as an important ally of Aquaman.
The movie became a major commercial success and established Jason Momoa’s Aquaman as one of DC’s most recognizable modern film characters.
It also gave Heard one of the biggest roles of her career.
Amber Heard in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Heard returned as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which was released in December 2023.
The sequel shifted much of its focus toward the relationship between Arthur Curry and his half-brother Orm, played by Patrick Wilson.
That meant Mera had a smaller role than in the first film.
The reduction became controversial because it occurred against the backdrop of Heard’s legal battle with Depp.
During the 2022 trial, Heard testified that she had fought to remain in the movie and that her role had been significantly reduced.
Director James Wan later said that the sequel had been designed around the relationship between Arthur and Orm, describing the movie’s central dynamic as a brother-focused story.
The important confirmed fact is that Heard was not removed completely.
She appeared in the finished movie as Mera. DC’s official movie information lists her among the returning cast.
The Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Legal Battle
The legal dispute between Amber Heard and Johnny Depp became one of the biggest celebrity court cases in recent history.
The dispute centered on a 2018 Washington Post opinion article in which Heard described herself as a public figure representing domestic abuse.
Depp sued Heard for defamation in Virginia, arguing that the article damaged his reputation.
Heard countersued Depp over statements made by one of his attorneys.
The case went to trial in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 2022.
The proceedings attracted worldwide attention and were extensively discussed on social media.
What Was the 2022 Verdict?
On June 1, 2022, the Virginia jury largely ruled in Depp’s favor.
The jury found that Heard had defamed Depp through statements in the Washington Post article and awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
Virginia law subsequently reduced the punitive damages to $350,000, bringing the judgment against Heard to $10.35 million.
At the same time, the jury found Depp liable for defamation on one part of Heard’s countersuit and awarded her $2 million in compensatory damages.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to describe the verdict as a decision in which only one side received a favorable finding.
The jury largely sided with Depp, but Heard also prevailed on one claim.
What Happened After the Verdict?
Following the verdict, Heard pursued an appeal.
Her legal team argued that errors during the trial had affected the fairness of the proceedings.
Depp’s side also pursued an appeal concerning the portion of the verdict that favored Heard.
The legal dispute did not ultimately proceed to another full trial.
In December 2022, Heard announced that she had agreed to settle the case.
Under the settlement, Heard’s side agreed to pay Depp $1 million.
The settlement ended the Virginia litigation between the two actors.
Heard said at the time that the settlement was not an admission and that she wanted to move forward from the legal dispute. Depp’s representatives said the settlement formally closed the matter for him.
The UK Legal Case Was Different
The Depp-Heard legal history also includes an earlier case in the United Kingdom.
In 2020, Depp sued the publisher of the British newspaper The Sun after the publication described him as a “wife beater.”
The UK High Court ruled against Depp in that case.
That case was separate from the 2022 Virginia defamation case involving Heard.
This distinction is important because the two proceedings involved different defendants, legal claims and jurisdictions.
The outcomes were also different.
The UK case concerned Depp’s lawsuit against a newspaper publisher, while the Virginia case involved direct litigation between Depp and Heard.
Amber Heard’s Life in Spain
After the intense public attention surrounding the legal battle, Heard moved to Spain.
Her life there has generally been much quieter than her previous years in Hollywood.
Reports have placed her in Madrid, where she has focused heavily on family life.
In 2023, Heard was reported to be living in Madrid and spending much of her time away from the entertainment industry’s spotlight.
She has also spoken publicly about enjoying life in Spain.
Her move has been widely viewed as part of a broader effort to create a more private environment following years of intense media attention.
Amber Heard Became a Mother of Three
Family has become an increasingly important part of Heard’s life.
Her first child, Oonagh Paige, was born in 2021.
In May 2025, Heard announced that she had welcomed twins, Agnes and Ocean.
The announcement made her a mother of three.
Heard described becoming a mother on her own terms as deeply meaningful and said she was grateful to have been able to build the family she wanted.
The announcement also represented a major personal development during a period when she had largely remained away from Hollywood publicity.
By 2026, Heard’s public appearances have occasionally included her children, although she generally keeps their lives private.
Amber Heard’s Life in Spain in 2026
Heard’s life in Spain has continued to attract public interest because she rarely gives extensive updates about her personal life.
In June 2026, she made headlines after participating in a 10-kilometer race in Madrid.
She shared a small glimpse of the experience on social media and was photographed with her eldest daughter after the event.
More recently, she participated in a half marathon in San Sebastián.
The appearance offered another rare public glimpse of the actress outside the traditional Hollywood environment.
These activities suggest that fitness and family have become visible parts of Heard’s life in Spain.
However, it would be speculative to claim that these appearances signal a specific future career decision.
Has Amber Heard Retired From Acting?
Amber Heard has not publicly established a permanent retirement from acting.
Her screen work has become less frequent, particularly compared with the period before the Depp legal battle.
Her last major studio film was Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023.
She also appeared in the independent film In the Fire in 2023.
Her reduced public profile has led to repeated speculation about whether she has left Hollywood permanently, but speculation should not be presented as confirmation.
A quieter career does not automatically mean retirement.
Her professional future remains open unless Heard herself or an official production announcement confirms otherwise.
What Officials and Organizations Said About Her Aquaman Role
The controversy surrounding Heard’s role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom produced different explanations.
Heard testified that her role had been reduced after her legal dispute became a major public controversy.
Warner Bros. and director James Wan emphasized other factors, particularly the sequel’s creative direction and the relationship between Arthur and Orm.
Wan explained that the sequel was conceived around the relationship between the two brothers.
The final film confirms one important point: Heard remained in the movie as Mera.
That makes it inaccurate to say that she was completely removed from Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
Why Amber Heard’s Story Still Matters
Amber Heard’s story remains significant because it combines entertainment, celebrity culture, social media and the legal system.
The Depp-Heard trial became an unusually public courtroom event.
Millions of people followed the proceedings online, while clips from the trial circulated widely across social media.
The case also generated wider discussions about domestic-abuse allegations, defamation law, online harassment, celebrity influence and the effect of social media on public perceptions of legal disputes.
At the same time, the case demonstrates why court verdicts need to be discussed precisely.
The Virginia jury largely found for Depp, but it also awarded Heard damages on part of her countersuit.
The later settlement ended the litigation without creating a new trial verdict.
Those distinctions are important when discussing the case years later.
Amber Heard’s Career Today
The current phase of Heard’s career is considerably quieter than her years as a major Hollywood studio actress.
Her most recognizable recent role remains Mera.
She has continued to have professional involvement in entertainment, but motherhood and private life have become much more prominent in public reporting about her.
Her decision to live in Spain has also created distance from the Hollywood environment in which much of her career developed.
Whether she eventually returns to major studio productions, takes on smaller independent projects or continues to keep acting selective remains uncertain.
There is no verified basis for predicting a major comeback or a permanent retirement at this point.
What Happens Next for Amber Heard?
The next stage of Amber Heard’s career remains uncertain.
There is no confirmed announcement establishing a new major franchise role comparable to Mera.
Her recent public activity has instead centered largely on her family and life in Spain.
She has also continued to make occasional public appearances and maintain a connection with entertainment.
For now, the most accurate description of Heard’s 2026 life is that she remains an actress who has significantly reduced her public profile while focusing heavily on her family.
Any claims about a major upcoming movie, a permanent Hollywood departure or a new franchise role should be treated as unconfirmed unless officially announced.
Amber Heard: Career Timeline
2000s
Heard began building her career through supporting roles in films and television.
2010s
Her profile increased through projects including The Rum Diary, Magic Mike XXL and The Danish Girl.
2017
She joined the DC film universe as Mera in Justice League.
2018
She appeared as Mera in Aquaman, which became a major global commercial success.
2021
She reprised Mera in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
2022
The highly publicized Virginia defamation trial between Heard and Johnny Depp took place.
December 2022
Heard and Depp reached a settlement, ending their Virginia litigation.
2023
Heard returned as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and appeared in In the Fire.
2025
Heard announced the birth of twins Agnes and Ocean, joining her daughter Oonagh.
2026
She has continued living a relatively private life in Spain and has made occasional public appearances, including participation in running events.
The Bottom Line
Amber Heard’s life in 2026 is very different from the period when she was at the center of Hollywood and one of the world’s most closely followed celebrity court cases.
Her career remains closely associated with Mera and the Aquaman franchise.
Her legal battle with Johnny Depp ended through a settlement in 2022 after a Virginia jury largely ruled in Depp’s favor while also awarding Heard damages on one part of her countersuit.
Since then, Heard has moved toward a quieter life in Spain.
She is now a mother of three and has largely avoided the level of publicity that surrounded her during the trial.
Her professional future remains open.
For now, there is no confirmed major new franchise role or permanent retirement announcement. What is clear is that Amber Heard remains active in her own way, balancing motherhood, a quieter life in Spain and a selective connection to acting.
FAQs
Who is Amber Heard?
Amber Heard is an American actress best known internationally for playing Mera in the DC films Justice League, Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
What role did Amber Heard play in Aquaman?
Amber Heard played Mera, an Atlantean warrior and member of the royal family who becomes an important ally and partner of Arthur Curry.
Is Amber Heard in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?
Yes. Amber Heard returned as Mera in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, released in 2023.
Why was Amber Heard’s Aquaman role controversial?
Her role became controversial amid her highly publicized legal dispute with Johnny Depp. Heard said during the 2022 trial that her role in the sequel had been reduced. Director James Wan and other Warner Bros. representatives gave explanations connected to the movie’s creative direction and its focus on Arthur and Orm.
What happened in the Amber Heard and Johnny Depp trial?
In 2022, a Virginia jury largely found that Heard defamed Depp in connection with her 2018 Washington Post article and awarded Depp damages. The jury also found Depp liable for one part of Heard’s countersuit and awarded her $2 million.
Did Amber Heard and Johnny Depp settle their case?
Yes. In December 2022, the two sides reached a settlement. Heard agreed to pay Depp $1 million, bringing the Virginia litigation to an end.
Where does Amber Heard live now?
Amber Heard has been publicly reported as living in Spain, particularly Madrid, after moving there following the legal battle.
How many children does Amber Heard have?
Amber Heard has three children. Her daughter Oonagh Paige was born in 2021, and she announced the birth of twins Agnes and Ocean in 2025.
Is Amber Heard still acting?
Amber Heard has not announced a permanent retirement from acting. Her acting work has become less frequent, and she has maintained a much lower public profile since the 2022 legal battle.
What is Amber Heard doing in 2026?
In 2026, Heard has largely focused on her family and private life in Spain while making occasional public appearances. She has also participated in running events, including a 10K race in Madrid and a half marathon in San Sebastián.
Will Amber Heard return as Mera?
There is currently no confirmed announcement of another major Mera appearance following Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Any claim about a future DC return should be treated as unconfirmed unless officially announced.
