Amber Heard Finds Real Happiness! Why She Said No to Hollywood and Moved to Spain

Amber Heard chose her own sanity, her daughter's well-being, and made the decision to move to another country. In other words, she gave the metaphorical finger to Hollywood and is doing what's right for her.

Last year, Heard was raked through the mud by both Hollywood and fans alike during the uber public court case against her ex-husband, Johnny Depp. Nobody was able to escape news of this extraordinarily high profile celebrity debacle.

But Heard has figured out what's right for her.

Why Amber Heard Quit Hollywood

The 37-year-old actress has been absent from the spotlight since the end of the defamation trial in Virginia in 2022, in which she was found to have libeled Depp, 59.

Following this ultra turbulent period in the spotlight, reports show that the actress sold her home in Yucca Valley, California, and began spending a significant amount of time in Madrid, Spain. In October 2022 she was spotted on a beach in Mallorca, Spain with her close friend Eve Barlow. 

One year after the defamation trial from the depths of hell, Amber Heard hasn’t just said goodbye to showbiz—she’s literally departed the country, choosing to carve out a new life in Madrid. 

When her trial was finally over, Amber Heard’s thoughts were entirely focused on the quality time she would be able to spend with her daughter, Oonagh Paige Heard.

“I get to be a mom full-time, where I’m not having to juggle calls with lawyers.” 

The actress welcomed her daughter via surrogacy two years ago because she wanted to have a baby on her own and not worry about finding a partner first. The decision to raise her child away from all the noise and scrutiny was also a significant factor in her decision to relocate. 

The news apparently left her former boyfriend Elon Musk happy, as it meant she was accepting and acting on his advice to “move on,” following the trial.

Ultimately, it seems that Heard—who’s last appearance onscreen will be a cameo in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom—has truly decided to leave Hollywood behind and start a new chapter in Spain. Heard hasn’t worked since filming Aquaman in 2021, followed soon after by filming for the upcoming period drama thriller In The Fire.

Amber Heard Is Focused on Motherhood…in a Faraway Land

A year after her ex-husband, Johnny Depp sued her for defamation, and just as journalist Nick Wallis prepared to publish his second book, “Depp v Heard: The Unreal Story,” (published May 17, 2023), Heard is finally focusing on motherhood—in a faraway land.

Since her departure from Hollywood, Heard has chosen to dedicate her time to raising her two-year-old daughter, which is exactly where her focus was following the trial. 

These days, the paparazzi frequently spot the actress in Spain, happily spending time with her daughter. She seems content as she poses for photos with fans, if her Instagram account is any indication, she is loving raising her daughter and not thinking about what other people might think of her. In one photo, she holds her baby while working out and jokes about not needing dumbbells. 

“I love Spain so much. I hope I can get to stay here, I love living here,” she shares.

While Heard’s decision to move to Spain may come as a surprise to her fans, it appears that she has found real joy by living a more private and peaceful life away from the limelight. Whether she will eventually return to Hollywood remains uncertain, but for now, Heard is embracing her life in a new country and finding joy in being a mother.

Is Amber Heard Truly Done With the Spotlight?

A friend of Amber Heard’s recently shed light on her decision to leave Hollywood and relocate to Spain with her young daughter. The source shared that Heard feels comfortable there as she knows the language. 

“She’s bilingual in Spanish and is happy there, raising her daughter away from all the noise.” 

“I don’t think she is in any hurry to return to work or to Hollywood,” they said, “but she will probably come back when the time is right, for the right project.”

Meanwhile, Depp remains just fine in the Hollywood trenches: he’s walked in the Savage X Fenty show, has hawked portraits of dead celebrities, and is now directing a film about the famous Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani before hitting the road with his band, The Hollywood Vampires. That being said, it’s nice to see Heard flourishing in her own very different way.

Sometimes Moving on Is the Best Thing You Can Do

The fact that Amber Heard has found peace and happiness in her new surroundings with her daughter is a testament to the power, of well, new surroundings. Sometimes all you can do is move on—even, and especially—under the most horrific of circumstances. 

Not to mention, it takes considerable effort and love to raise a child independently. So Amber Heard’s choice to raise her daughter in a more peaceful climate, away from the chaos of Hollywood drama does seem like a very reasonable decision, at least for the time being.

While some people (particularly Amber’s steadfast fans) may take issue with Heard calling it quits on a career she worked hard to build, the door is always open to her should she choose to return in the coming months or even years. Chances are high that if she does, she will be discerning with the roles she chooses. As her friend put it: she will probably come back for the right project.

Herein lies the silver lining for those among us who have lived through truly trying times: if and when we choose to move on and direct our attentions toward something more worthy of our limited energies (be it a child, a project, or a new goal), there is a reward lying in wait. Because when we learn to move on, and forward, the adversity we have experienced nurtures authentic growth. While growth may look a little different for everybody, a feeling of being at peace with less attention and less action is a sure sign that it’s taking place. 

Life is short but it is also long, and we would all be wise to act according to our emotional needs and our truest desires, just as Amber Heard has seemingly chosen to do.