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

Amber Heard made a surprising return to the screen this weekend at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival with the documentary Silenced. The film looks at the growing trend of powerful men using huge defamation lawsuits to intimidate and silence women who speak out about abuse.

The documentary premiered on Saturday in the world cinema documentary category. It was directed by Selina Miles and produced alongside human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson. Robinson, who helped Heard in her 2018 UK libel case against The Sun, explained that nine-figure lawsuits are being used more often to bankrupt women who try to share their experiences.

In her first on-screen appearance since 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Heard gave a raw interview about her own experiences. 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, she said in the documentary.

The film presents Heard’s story as part of a larger, global problem. She appears alongside other women who have faced similar legal attacks, including Australian political staffer Brittany Higgins and Colombian journalist Catalina Ruiz-Navarro. Heard reflected on the trials she participated in, saying, The outcome of that trial depended on my participation, and I depended on the outcome of that trial.

Silenced also shows the public harassment Heard faced during court appearances. Archival footage includes crowds of fans, some dressed in costumes from her ex-husband’s films, shouting at her and throwing objects. Robinson explained that the enormous cost of defending these lawsuits often ends women’s fights for justice before they can even reach a courtroom.

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

Since moving to Madrid for a quieter life, Heard has focused on raising her daughter Oonagh Paige and her twins Agnes and Ocean, born in early 2025. She has also been pursuing theater work, making her stage debut in Jeremy O. Harris’s play Spirit of the People at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in July 2025. The play, which explores themes of land and identity, allowed Heard to use her Spanish language skills and showed her interest in more character-driven projects.

In addition to acting, Heard has become a frequent speaker at international human rights summits, advocating for legal reforms to protect domestic violence victims from retaliatory lawsuits.

As of early 2026, Silenced is seeking a distribution deal to reach a wider audience. Heard’s appearance at Sundance, though brief, reminded viewers of her influence on conversations around the #MeToo movement and women’s legal rights.

Do you think Amber Heard’s participation in Silenced will change how the public views her legal battles, or is the divide around her story too strong to bridge? Let us know in the comments.