Career Timeline of Amber Heard: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Amber Heard built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Amber Heard is an American actress known for her roles in films such as 'All the Boys Love Mandy Lane,' 'The Ward,' 'Drive Angry,' and 'London Fields.' She began her career with a leading role in the horror film 'All the Boys Love Mandy Lane' (2006) and has since appeared in a variety of film genres.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2004: Early Acting Appearances

In 2004, Amber Heard appeared in Kenny Chesney's "There Goes My Life" music video and Eisley's "I Wasn't Prepared" music video. She also had small supporting roles in the television series Jack & Bobby, The Mountain, and made her film debut in Friday Night Lights in 2004.

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2005: Supporting Film Roles

In 2005, Amber Heard had supporting roles in the films Drop Dead Sexy, North Country, and Side FX. Also, she appeared in The O.C. TV series.

2006: First Leading Role and Film Premieres

In 2006, Amber Heard received her first leading role in the film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2006. She also had roles in Price to Pay and Alpha Dog.

2007: Guest Starring Roles

In 2007, Amber Heard had a guest-starring spot in an episode of the television series Criminal Minds. She also starred in Spin.

2007: Roles in 'Hidden Palms', 'Day 73 with Sarah', and 'Californication'

In 2007, Amber Heard played the love interest in The CW's teen drama Hidden Palms. That same year, Heard also appeared in the short movie Day 73 with Sarah, in the teen drama Remember the Daze, and in an episode of the Showtime series Californication.

2008: Mainstream Recognition with 'Pineapple Express' and 'Never Back Down'

In 2008, Amber Heard gained mainstream recognition with supporting roles in Pineapple Express and Never Back Down. She also appeared in The Informers.

2008: European Release of 'All the Boys Love Mandy Lane'

In 2008, Amber Heard's film "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane," in which she had her first leading role, was released in Europe.

2009: First Met Johnny Depp

In 2009, Amber Heard first met actor Johnny Depp when she was cast in The Rum Diary opposite him.

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2009: Starring Role in 'The Joneses' and Other Films

In 2009, Amber Heard starred in The Joneses. She also had a brief appearance in Zombieland and roles in independent films like ExTerminators, The River Why, And Soon the Darkness, and the horror film The Stepfather.

2010: Roles in Independent and Horror Films

In 2010, Amber Heard appeared in independent films such as The River Why and And Soon the Darkness, as well as the critically panned horror film The Ward.

2011: Roles in 'Drive Angry', 'The Playboy Club', and 'The Rum Diary'

In 2011, Amber Heard starred in Drive Angry, appeared on Top Gear, starred in NBC's The Playboy Club (which was quickly canceled), and played the love interest in The Rum Diary. She also appeared in a Guess advertisement campaign in 2011.

2013: Starring roles in 'Paranoia', 'Machete Kills', and 'Syrup'; US release of 'All the Boys Love Mandy Lane'

In 2013, Amber Heard starred in the thriller Paranoia, the exploitation film Machete Kills, and the satire Syrup. That year also saw the US limited release of All the Boys Love Mandy Lane.

2013: US Release of 'All the Boys Love Mandy Lane'

In 2013, Amber Heard's film "All the Boys Love Mandy Lane" was released in the US, after premiering at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival.

2014: Supporting Role in '3 Days to Kill'

In 2014, Amber Heard appeared in a supporting role in the action-thriller 3 Days to Kill.

2015: Premiere of London Fields at Toronto International Film Festival

In 2015, London Fields, starring Amber Heard, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

August 2016: Pledged Divorce Settlement to Charity

In August 2016, Amber Heard pledged to donate her $7 million divorce settlement with Johnny Depp to the ACLU and Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA).

November 2016: Public Service Announcement on Domestic Violence

In November 2016, Amber Heard appeared in a public service announcement (PSA) for the #GirlGaze Project, addressing domestic violence and advocating for violence against women (VAW) survivors.

December 2016: Letter in Porter Magazine

In December 2016, Amber Heard published a letter in Porter magazine, offering support to women suffering in silence and emphasizing solidarity among women.

2016: Initial Donation Period

Between 2016 and 2018, a total of $1.3 million had been donated to the ACLU in Amber Heard's name.

2016: Heard Becomes ACLU Artist Ambassador and UN Human Rights Ambassador

In 2016, Amber Heard volunteered with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as an ACLU Artist Ambassador. Also in 2016, she became a Human Rights Ambassador for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

March 2017: The Economist's Pride and Prejudice Event

In March 2017, at The Economist's Pride and Prejudice event, Amber Heard discussed the underrepresentation of LGBTQ characters in Hollywood films and encouraged greater openness and challenges to the status quo.

August 2017: Short Video for The Economist

In August 2017, Amber Heard produced a short video for The Economist, addressing the gender pay gap and the underrepresentation of women in the film industry.

2017: Amber Heard as Mera in Justice League

In 2017, Amber Heard appeared as Mera in Justice League.

2017: Roles in 'I Do... Until I Don't' and 'Justice League'

In 2017, Amber Heard appeared in Lake Bell's indie comedy I Do... Until I Don't and joined the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) cast as Mera in the superhero film Justice League. In 2017, Heard was also appointed global ambassador for cosmetics brand L'Oréal Paris.

2017: Included in CHLA Honor Roll of Donors

In 2017, Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) included Amber Heard in their "Honor Roll of Donors" list for the fiscal year.

April 2018: Joined Syrian American Medical Society Mission

In April 2018, Amber Heard joined the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) on a medical mission to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan as a goodwill ambassador, later partnering with SAMS to finance treatment for children with thalassemia.

September 2018: United Nations' 9th Annual Social Good Summit

In September 2018, Amber Heard spoke at the United Nations' 9th Annual Social Good Summit, emphasizing the importance of fairness, justice, and human rights.

September 2018: Settlement Reached and Release of 'London Fields'

In September 2018, a settlement was reached regarding 'London Fields,' and the film was finally released after being pulled due to disagreements and litigation.

October 2018: Said to have Donated Settlement to ACLU and CHLA

In October 2018, Amber Heard stated on RTL Late Night that she had donated $7 million to the ACLU and CHLA.

October 2018: HagueTalks Speech

In October 2018, ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Amber Heard gave a speech at HagueTalks' Imagine the World We Want event.

November 2018: Visited Smile Train's Programs in Mexico

In November 2018, Amber Heard visited Smile Train's programs in Mexico, where she met children with cleft lip and cleft palate, their families, and doctors.

2018: ACLU Received 1.3 Million in Heard's Name

As of 2018, the ACLU had received a total of $1.3 million in Amber Heard's name between 2016 and 2018.

2018: Ambassador for ACLU

In 2018, Amber Heard became an ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), supporting their advocacy for justice in gender issues.

February 2019: Joined SAMS' Mission to Lebanon

In February 2019, Amber Heard joined the Syrian American Medical Society's (SAMS) mission to Lebanon to assist Syrian refugees, visiting informal settlements in Beqaa Valley and supporting psychosocial and educational programs.

May 2019: Speech on Capitol Hill in Support of the SHIELD Act

In May 2019, Amber Heard gave a speech on Capitol Hill in support of the SHIELD Act, sharing her experience with the nonconsensual leak of her private photos obtained via hacking in 2014.

November 2019: Op-ed in The New York Times

In November 2019, Amber Heard wrote an op-ed in The New York Times discussing "revenge porn" and emphasizing the need for privacy protection legislation.

2019: Supporting Roles in 'Her Smell' and 'Gully'

In 2019, Amber Heard had supporting roles in the independent dramas Her Smell and Gully.

August 2020: Heard files counterclaim against Depp

In August 2020, Amber Heard filed a counterclaim against Johnny Depp, alleging that he coordinated a harassment campaign on Twitter and orchestrated online petitions to get her fired from Aquaman and L'Oréal.

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December 2020: Premiere of 'The Stand' on CBS All Access

In December 2020, The Stand, a miniseries starring Amber Heard as Nadine Cross, premiered on CBS All Access.

2020: Election Ad and Voter Participation

Prior to the 2020 United States presidential election, Amber Heard appeared in an election ad supporting Planned Parenthood and participated in the VoteRiders #IDCheck Challenge on social media.

February 2021: Series Finale of 'The Stand'

In February 2021, the series finale of The Stand aired.

June 1, 2022: Verdict in Depp-Heard Trial

On June 1, 2022, the jury in the Depp-Heard trial found that Amber Heard defamed Johnny Depp with actual malice, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages (later reduced to $350,000). The jury also found that one of Waldman's statements was defamatory towards Heard, awarding her $2 million in compensatory damages.

December 2022: Depp and Heard settle the case

In December 2022, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard settled their case after both filed to appeal the verdict. Heard stated that she "simply cannot go through" a retrial, while Depp's lawyers stated that the settlement would result in $1 million being paid to Depp by Heard's insurer, which Depp pledged to donate to charities.

June 2023: In the Fire Premiere

In June 2023, Amber Heard's film "In the Fire," directed by Conor Allyn, premiered at the Taormina Film Fest.

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2023: Critics observe scenes were cut from 'Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom'

Following the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in 2023, critics observed that a number of Amber Heard's scenes seem to have been cut from the film, as she claimed in court.