Amber Heard has opened up about domestic violence in an emotional public service announcement for the GirlGaze Project.
The actress, who settled her divorce with Johnny Depp in August, spoke about how it felt to realise that you are a 'victim'. She began the video asking herself: "How is this happening to me? I'm strong, smart, I'm not a victim… I guess there was a lot of shame attached to that, the label of victim. It happens to so many women you know. When it happens in your home behind closed doors with someone you love, it's not straightforward. If a stranger did this it would be a no-brainer."
© Photo: Getty ImagesAmber settled her divorce with Johnny earlier this year
The 30-year-old filed for divorce from the Pirates of the Caribbean actor in May this year after 15 months of marriage, and was granted a restraining order after claiming she had been verbally and physically abused throughout their relationship. After the couple settled out of court, Amber confirmed that she donated the £5 million secured in her divorce settlement to two charities; the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, whose work includes preventing violence against women.
Amber Heard's powerful and emotional message about domestic violence....I'm not crying....? pic.twitter.com/etSQuWcVDb— Amber Heard USA (@AmberHeardNews) November 25, 2016
In the video, which was released to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Towards Women, she continued to thank her friends and speak about how she wants to use her fame to raise awareness about the issue. "If I hadn't had them around me, how different my life would be," she admitted. "Just as a woman having gone through this in the public stage, in the public arena that I did it, I have a unique opportunity to remind other women this doesn't have to be the way it is, you don't have to do it alone, you're not alone. We can change this.
"The only way that people are going to feel comfortable coming forward, raising their voices, standing up for themselves, is if we change the system in place that keeps them quiet. Speak up. Raise your voice. Your voice is the most powerful thing and we, together, as women standing shoulder to shoulder, cannot and will not any longer accept silence."
