Amber Heard Breaks Silence on Johnny Depp Trial at Sundance: “It Could Get So Much Worse for Me as a Woman”

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Amber Heard appeared in a new documentary, Silenced, at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The film explores how some powerful men are using defamation lawsuits to scare and silence women who have shared experiences of abuse.

The documentary debuted on Saturday as part of the world cinema documentary selection. It was directed by Selina Miles and produced with the help of human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson. Robinson, known for assisting Amber Heard in her 2018 UK libel case against The Sun, highlighted a growing trend: expensive lawsuits are increasingly used to financially ruin women who speak out about their experiences.

It was so tough to watch Amber Heard in her new interview – it’s her first time speaking publicly since the Aquaman movie last year. She was incredibly vulnerable, and honestly, it broke my heart. She kept emphasizing that this wasn’t about her trying to explain herself, but that she felt like she’d lost her voice, in every sense of the word. She repeatedly said she doesn’t want to rehash her story or even use her voice anymore, and that’s what’s really troubling her, she explained.

The film frames Amber Heard’s experience as one example of a widespread issue. It connects her story to those of other women who have been subjected to similar legal battles, such as Brittany Higgins, a political staffer from Australia, and Catalina Ruiz-Navarro, a journalist from Colombia. Heard explained the difficult position she was in, stating that the result of her trial was tied to her involvement, and her well-being depended on the trial’s outcome.

The documentary Silenced also reveals the public harassment Amber Heard endured while attending court. It includes old video footage of crowds – some even dressed as characters from her ex-husband’s movies – yelling at her and throwing things. Director Emily Robinson points out that the high cost of legal defense frequently prevents women from pursuing justice in these cases, often stopping them before a trial can even begin.

Even though she was discussing a difficult topic, Heard concluded by sharing a hopeful message. She said that seeing others stand up for what’s right—especially women who are willing to challenge unfair power dynamics—gives her courage. She also shared that watching her daughter grow fuels her belief in a brighter future for those who have experienced trauma.

After moving to Madrid for a more peaceful lifestyle, Amber Heard has been dedicated to raising her daughter, Oonagh Paige, and her twins, Agnes and Ocean, who were born in early 2025. She’s also returned to the stage, making her theatrical debut in Jeremy O. Harris’s play, Spirit of the People, at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in July 2025. The play, which examines themes of land and identity, gave Heard the opportunity to use her Spanish and highlighted her preference for roles with complex characters.

Besides her acting career, Amber Heard often speaks at global human rights events. She champions changes to the law that would shield people experiencing domestic violence from being sued in response.

By early 2026, the film Silenced is hoping to find a distributor to show it to more people. Although her time at Sundance was short, Heard’s appearance highlighted her ongoing impact on discussions about the #MeToo movement and women’s rights in the legal system.

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2026-01-25 11:44