Amber Heard Unexpectedly Speaks Out About Johnny Depp Trial at Sundance: “I Didn’t Understand It Could Get So Much Worse for Me as a Woman”

Amber Heard made a striking and unexpected return to the screen this weekend at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The actress appears in a new documentary titled Silenced, which explores the growing trend of high-profile men using massive defamation lawsuits to intimidate and silence survivors of abuse.

The film premiered on Saturday afternoon as part of the world cinema documentary category. Directed by Selina Miles and produced alongside human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, Silenced examines the “chilling effect” these legal battles have on free speech. Robinson, who previously assisted Heard in the 2018 UK libel case against The Sun, warned that nine-figure lawsuits are increasingly used to bankrupt women who speak out.

In her first film appearance since 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Heard provided a raw interview about her own experiences with the legal system. This is not about me. I have lost my ability to speak. I am not here to tell my story. I don’t want to tell my story. In fact, I don’t want to use my voice anymore. That’s the problem, Heard said bluntly during her confessional segment.

The documentary frames Heard’s experience as an “amplified version” of a global systemic issue. She is featured alongside other women who faced similar legal retaliation, including Australian political staffer Brittany Higgins and Colombian journalist Catalina Ruiz-Navarro. Heard reflected on her participation in past trials as a difficult necessity, stating, The outcome of that trial depended on my participation, and I depended on the outcome of that trial.

Silenced also highlights the intense public harassment Heard endured during her court appearances. Archival footage shows mobs of fans, some dressed in costumes from her ex-husband’s films, shouting expletives and throwing trash at her. Robinson noted that the staggering cost of defending such claims effectively ends many women’s search for justice before it can even reach a courtroom.

Despite the heavy subject matter, Heard ended her interview in the film with a message of resilience and hope for the future. It gives me strength seeing other people take on the fight. Women brave enough to address the imbalance of power, she said. She noted that watching her daughter grow up inspires her to believe the world can eventually become a better place for survivors.

Since relocating to Madrid to find a quieter life out of the Hollywood spotlight, Amber Heard has been focusing on her role as a mother to her daughter, Oonagh Paige, and her twins, Agnes and Ocean, whom she welcomed in early 2025. Professionally, she has successfully transitioned to the stage, making her theater debut in the play Spirit of the People by Jeremy O. Harris. The production premiered in July 2025 at the Williamstown Theatre Festival to positive reviews.

The play, which deals with complex themes of land and identity, allowed Heard to utilize her Spanish language skills and signaled a shift toward more character-driven, artistic projects. In addition to her work in theater, Heard has become a frequent speaker at international human rights summits, where she advocates for legal reforms to protect victims of domestic violence from retaliatory litigation.

As of early 2026, Silenced is seeking a distribution deal to bring its message to a wider global audience. Heard’s appearance at Sundance, though brief, served as a powerful reminder of her enduring influence on the cultural conversation surrounding the #MeToo movement and the legal rights of women.

Do you think Amber Heard’s participation in a documentary like Silenced will help shift the public’s perception of her legal battles, or is the cultural divide surrounding her story too deep to bridge? Share your thoughts in the comments.