Depp v Heard: the unreal story extract chapters 1-2
Johnny Depp: monstrous wife-beater? Innocent victim of Amber Heard’s abuse? Or is the reality more complex? Depp v Heard: the unreal story is the definitive account of the gruelling court battles between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, by the reporter who was there. Using witness testimony and contemporaneous evidence, Nick Wallis has created a gripping reconstruction of the allegations of violence, drug-taking and wild extravagance which dominated two epic trials and made headlines around the world. Nick also weaves in his own reportage and insights, bringing the courtroom drama to life and analysing how courts in the UK and USA arrived at conflicting conclusions. If you want to know who to believe, Depp v Heard: the unreal story is your conclusive guide to what really happened. This is an extract from Depp v Heard: the unreal story by Nick Wallis
Johnny Depp: monstrous wife-beater? Innocent victim of Amber Heard’s abuse? Or is the reality more complex?
Depp v Heard: the unreal story is the definitive account of the gruelling court battles between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, by the reporter who was there. Using witness testimony and contemporaneous evidence, Nick Wallis has created a gripping reconstruction of the allegations of violence, drug-taking and wild extravagance which dominated two epic trials and made headlines around the world.
Nick also weaves in his own reportage and insights, bringing the courtroom drama to life and analysing how courts in the UK and USA arrived at conflicting conclusions.
If you want to know who to believe, Depp v Heard: the unreal story is your conclusive guide to what really happened.
This is an extract from Depp v Heard: the unreal story by Nick Wallis
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KISS IN A SHOWER<br />
In 2008, <strong>the</strong> movie star Johnny <strong>Depp</strong> secured enough funding to produce<br />
an adaptation of The Rum Diary, a lost novel written by his great<br />
friend, Hunter S Thompson.<br />
<strong>Depp</strong> took <strong>the</strong> lead role and began casting <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r parts. Amber<br />
<strong>Heard</strong>, a young, beautiful actor auditioned for Chenault, <strong>the</strong> female<br />
lead. Chenault was a siren, described by Thompson in his book as ‘all<br />
hips and thighs and nipples and long-haired charm.’<br />
The 45-year old <strong>Depp</strong> coaxed Bruce Robinson out of retirement to<br />
write and direct <strong>the</strong> movie. Robinson believed Chenault represented<br />
a ‘dream’ – <strong>the</strong> ultimate object of desire, but always out of reach. He<br />
met <strong>Heard</strong> and was impressed, later describing her as ‘Doris Day and<br />
Marilyn Monroe rolled into one.’ But Robinson wasn’t sure about her<br />
acting ability. He asked <strong>Depp</strong> to read with her. <strong>Depp</strong> demurred.<br />
‘I said, “Bruce, if you’ve auditioned her five times, you’ve seen <strong>the</strong><br />
best and <strong>the</strong> worst… I think it’s a far better idea that we just meet so that<br />
I can see how she behaves, see how she reacts”.’<br />
<strong>Heard</strong> was summoned to <strong>Depp</strong>’s production offices in Los Angeles<br />
for a chat. She found <strong>the</strong> experience disorientating. <strong>Heard</strong> ‘wasn’t a fan’<br />
of <strong>Depp</strong>’s work but she ‘knew who he was… one of <strong>the</strong> most famous<br />
people in <strong>the</strong> world, so it was already a weird thing to go and get called<br />
into his office… I’m a no-name actor. I was 22.’<br />
<strong>Depp</strong> says on meeting <strong>Heard</strong>, he ‘took one look at her and I thought,<br />
“Yeah, that’s <strong>the</strong> Chenault that Hunter wants. That’s <strong>the</strong> one… she<br />
could definitely kill me”.’<br />
The pair hit it off. ‘We liked a lot of <strong>the</strong> same stuff,’ said <strong>Heard</strong>.<br />
‘Obscure writers… interesting books and pieces of poetry I hadn’t heard<br />
anyone else reference or know or like.’<br />
This, for <strong>Heard</strong>, was even stranger ‘because he’s twice my age and<br />
he’s a world famous actor and here we are getting along about obscure<br />
books and weird old blues… I thought it was unusual and remarkable.’<br />
After <strong>the</strong> meeting, <strong>Depp</strong> gave her a call. ‘My phone rings,’ said<br />
<strong>Heard</strong>, ‘and I hear this deep voice on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r line and he said “you’re<br />
it kid… Hunter wrote this part, and you’re <strong>the</strong> dream. You’re it, kid”.’<br />
<strong>Heard</strong> began filming her scenes for The Rum Diary in March 2009 in<br />
Puerto Rico. ‘It was a very colourful shoot in general. I could not have<br />
asked for a better scenario… occasionally Johnny would talk to me and<br />
<strong>the</strong>n he started to be really kind to me.’<br />
The film required <strong>Depp</strong> and <strong>Heard</strong> to kiss in a shower.
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