This is the exclusive Madrid neighbourhood where Amber Heard is rebuilding her life following her ‘career-ending’ courtroom defeat to ex-husband Johnny Depp.
The actress, 38, has become ‘well and truly integrated’ into the Spanish capital’s elite after buying a €1.5million home in the trendy northern district of Chamartin.
The five-bed property, featuring a garden and three bathrooms, counts millionaires, footballers and politicians as neighbours – who all enjoy being just a short drive from the heart of the city centre.
Heard’s pad was first built in the 1960s but reportedly underwent renovations shortly before being sold to the actress.
Her move to Spain came after she settled a $50m defamation lawsuit with Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp, 61, in 2022.
Initially moving to Mallorca – the actress rented a property under the name of Martha Jane Cannary, the real name of legendary Wild West cowgirl Calamity Jane, before settling in Madrid.
Amber Heard has rebuilt her life in Madrid after relocating to Spain in 2022, shortly after losing a multimillion dollar defamation trial launched by ex-husband Johnny Depp
The actress, 38, has become ‘well and truly integrated’ into the Spanish capital’s elite after buying a €1.5million home in the trendy northern district of Chamartin
Without fuss and courting little publicity, Heard quietly gave up her fast-paced life in southern California and moved to Spain with infant daughter Oonagh Paige -who she welcomed via surrogate a year earlier – in 2022 (pictured)
Once a red carpet mainstay, the American actress – who is expecting her second child – has sought out anonymity, far from Los Angeles and the Hollywood film industry that turned her into a household name.
Without fuss and courting little publicity, Heard quietly gave up her fast-paced life in southern California and moved to Spain with infant daughter Oonagh Paige -who she welcomed via surrogate a year earlier – in 2022.
The Texas native has not worked as an actress since, with some Hollywood insiders claiming she was ‘blacklisted’ following the widely-televised trial.
In the immediate fallout, Heard sought refuge in Mallorca, where she initially moved with her daughter, now three, and her current photographer girlfriend Bianca Butti, 43, before deciding to settle in Madrid last year.
It was a calculated move, with Heard said to be keen on distancing herself – quite literally – from the fallout of the defamation trial launched by ex-husband Depp over claims made by the actress that she suffered domestic abuse at his hands.
The six week trial, held at Fairfax County Court in Virginia, was won by Depp, with Heard ordered to pay $1million in damages – reduced from an initial $10m – to the Hollywood star.
The outcome would be the catalyst for geographical change as Heard became the subject of death threats and humiliating memes.
‘The trial was beyond stressful, and she wanted to start fresh,’ a source told PEOPLE, adding she now ‘has new energy and is focused on things that she loves.’
Speaking on her move, a neighbour in El Viso told MailOnline this week: ‘She lives here and I often see her walking her daughter to school in the mornings.
The five-bed property, featuring a garden and three bathrooms, counts millionaires, footballers and politicians as neighbours – who all enjoy being just a short drive from the heart of the city centre
The actress is pictured with her daughter in Madrid on December 6, shortly after sources confirmed she is expecting her second child
While Heard spends most of her time in Madrid with her daughter, she is occasionally spotted at some of the trendiest cafes and restaurants. One of these is Sala de Despiece, in the heart of the city, where she was recently seen with Butti
‘She wears a cap and sunglasses and normal clothes and keeps a low profile.
‘She lives here in peace, this is a neighbourhood filled with famous people, including football players, but no one bothers each other, I think that’s why she likes it – she has completely integrated into the community.’
Heard’s neighbour added: ‘When Amber first arrived there were lots of photographers parked outside the home but now there are none.
‘No one here really knows who she is, they don’t recognise her in the street like they would in America.
‘When I saw all the commotion around her I had to ask my friend who she was and she explained she was Johnny Depp’s ex.’
Pointing to another house she added: ‘An Atlético Madrid player lives there and no one even knows it, everyone keeps to themselves.’
So committed is she to embracing local culture, Heard has even learned the language, with her impressive command of Spanish evident in a recent TikTok video.
Heard’s daughter Oonagh attends a private catholic school for children aged one to six that teaches in both English and Spanish.
In the immediate fallout, Heard sought refuge in Mallorca, where she initially moved with her daughter, now three, and her current photographer girlfriend Bianca Butti, 43, before deciding to settle in Madrid last year
After picking up her daughter from school in the afternoons, the pair are often seen visiting an American supermarket called Taste of America (pictured)
A local newspaper report from 2017 said the fees were around €600 per month, or €7,200 per year, although they are likely to have increased since then.
After picking up her daughter from school in the afternoons, the pair are often seen visiting an American supermarket called Taste of America.
An employee told MailOnline: ‘She comes here a lot in the afternoon with her little girl, my colleague has served them many times.
‘I assume she likes to buy things that remind her of home, we have all kinds of stuff from the USA here.’
The store sells Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Betty Crocker baking products, pumpkin pies and an array of American candy.
Heard herself admitted relief at putting the ordeal behind her, telling Savannah Guthrie of TODAY: ‘I get to be a mom full-time, where I’m not having to juggle calls with lawyers.’
When she is not blending in with her local community, Heard likes to go running in the famous El Retiro park in the centre of the capital.
She was swamped by paparazzi there this week following the announcement that she is expecting a second child.
Heard was the subject of death threats and humiliating memes after losing the high profile defamation trial launched by Depp over her claims of domestic abuse at his hands
Since moving to Madrid, Heard is regularly seen enjoying scenic strolls in the city’s El Retiro park (pictured)
As the photographers congratulated her she responded in Spanish: ‘Thank you very much. It is my private life and I ask for respect.’
When asked if she plans on staying in the country, she replies in perfect Spanish: ‘Yes, I hope so. Yes, I love living here. I hope you are well, ciao. And thank you, nice to meet you.’
The baby is expected to be born in Madrid and Amber will raise it with her current partner Butti, with whom she began a relationship in 2020.
Butti travelled to Mallorca with Heard to escape the fallout from the Depp lawsuit defeat in 2022.
It is yet not known if the baby, like Oonagh, is being delivered via surrogacy.
A spokesperson told People magazine this week: ‘It’s still quite early in the pregnancy, so you’ll understand that we don’t want to go into too many details at this stage.
‘Suffice it to say that Amber is delighted for both herself and Oonagh Paige.’
Oonagh was born in April 2021. Heard said in an Instagram post at the time: ‘Four years ago, I decided I wanted to have a child. I wanted to do it on my own terms. I now appreciate how radical it is for us as women to think about one of the most fundamental parts of our destinies in this way.’
The actress regularly shares photos of herself and Oonagh on her social media channels
Heard pictured in May 2023 enjoying a jog close to her new home in Madrid
Initially moving to Mallorca, the actress rented a property under the name of Martha Jane Cannary, the real name of legendary Wild West cowgirl Calamity Jane
While Heard spends most of her time in Madrid with her daughter, she is occasionally spotted at some of the trendiest cafes and restaurants.
One of these is Sala de Despiece, in the heart of the city, where she was recently seen with Butti.
They enjoyed several glasses of white wine while tucking into Burrata, mussels, octopus and artichokes, reports Spanish national newspaper El Español.
On her birthday In April this year, she gave another rare glimpse into her ‘Madrileño’ lifestyle as she shared a picture of herself enjoying a glass of white wine at a popular bodega.
She captioned the pic: ‘Champagne kind of birthday.’
During her defamation trial in Virginia, a former Depp employee claimed her favourite wine was a Spanish vino called Vega Sicilia.
The witness claimed Heard ordered five bottles of the $500 tipple, plus eight bottles of another variety, to celebrate her 30th birthday.
Heard and Depp first met in 2009 when they were cast in the Hunter S. Thompson adaptation of The Rum Diary.
They started dating in 2012 and tied the knot in a civil ceremony in 2016, though the marriage lasted just over a year.
Heard waves to onlookers during an appearance in Spanish capital Madrid on December 7
Heard with ex-husband Johnny Depp in 2015. Their toxic two-year marriage would ultimately end in divorce
The actress paid Depp £1million after losing a 2022 defamation trial at Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Virginia (pictured with her attorneys Elaine Bredehoft and Benjamin Rottenborn)
The actress is now looking ahead to her second Christmas in Madrid after confirming her second child with PEOPLE in December
Heard filed for divorce and a restraining order against Depp in May 2016, accusing Depp of being abusive throughout their relationship.
Depp then filed a 2019 lawsuit against Heard for defamation over her December 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, in which she wrote about alleged abuse.
While she had not mentioned Depp by name, his legal team argued there was ‘a clear implication that Mr Depp is a domestic abuser.’
After a six-week televised battle, Depp was ultimately awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
Heard counter-sued and was awarded $2 million in damages, and while both parties appealed, they settled the case in December 2022.
That same year, Heard sold her $1.05m California mansion and moved to Mallorca with Butti, who supported her throughout the court case.
When she first split with Depp in 2016, Heard dated Elon Musk until 2018 and a year later was linked to The Flash director Andy Muschietti, before settling down with Butti in 2020.
Butti has 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry, having worked on hit reality series as a cinematographer, including for VH1’s Love & Hip Hop and Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta.
She has also had her own struggles, including being twice diagnosed with breast cancer, first in 2015 and then again in 2019.
Butti, from California, was very open with her cancer battles and for a time kept her followers updated on social media.