Amber Heard’s Red-Carpet Shoe & Fashion Moments With Johnny Depp: From The Rum Diary to London Fields

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s relationship may have dominated headlines in recent years, but before the drama, the two first crossed paths on a movie set.

Their collaborations — though few — brought them together on and off screen, most notably in The Rum Diary (2011) and later in London Fields (2018).

The Rum Diary Paris Premiere: Stella McCartney Gown & Platform Pumps

As The Rum Diary promotions rolled out across Europe, Amber Heard leaned into sleek, sophisticated fashion choices that highlighted her growing presence on the red carpet.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard attend the Paris premiere of The Rum Diary on November 8, 2011, with Heard in a navy Stella McCartney gown styled with Boucheron jewelry and classic black platform pumps (Credit: INFphoto)

While the films themselves received mixed reviews, the red carpets that surrounded them told a different story.

From Elie Saab gowns and Christian Louboutin heels to bold premiere looks, Heard used these moments to cement her place as a rising style star. Here’s a closer look at the films they worked on together and the standout fashion that accompanied them.

Johnny Depp transitioned from music to acting with the help of Nicolas Cage, landing his first role in A Nightmare on Elm Street at the age of 21. Just a year later, he secured a lead role in 21 Jump Street, which quickly established him as a rising star in Hollywood.

That breakout role launched Depp into the limelight and set the stage for his career in major films. Amber Heard, born in Austin, Texas, in 1986, soon began her own rise in Hollywood with early roles that showcased her potential.

Amber Heard’s First Red-Carpet Fashion Moments

Before her breakthrough in film, Amber Heard was already making red-carpet appearances that hinted at her evolving personal style.

Amber Heard on the red carpet at the premiere of “The Dukes of Hazzard” on July 28, 2005, in Hollywood, California, wearing casual blue jeans with a boho-print tube top, braided leather belt, brown flats, and a matching suede handbag (Credit: Shelly Patch / Startraksphoto)

Heard moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, with early roles in The O.C., Friday Night Lights, and Criminal Minds. Her first lead came in 2006 with All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, which, despite mixed reviews, helped establish her in the industry.

By 2008, she was appearing in higher-profile projects, such as Pineapple Express and Never Back Down.

Actor Nicolas Cage and actress Amber Heard, in a strapless Donna Karan dress, attend a screening of Summit Entertainment’s “Drive Angry 3D” on February 22, 2011, in Hollywood, California (Credit: Tony DiMaio / Startraksphoto)

From 2008 to 2010, Heard appeared in smaller independent films before returning to higher-profile work opposite Nicolas Cage in Drive Angry (2011), released the same year as The Rum Diary.

The Rum Diary Los Angeles Premiere: Red Elie Saab Gown & Louboutin Pumps

Based on Hunter S. Thompson’s 1960s novel (published posthumously in 1998), the film had Depp attached as both star and executive producer as early as 2000.

Development stretched for years, with multiple actors joining and leaving the project before production finally moved forward.

Amber Heard as Chenault wears a strapless lace dress with pearl accessories, while Johnny Depp as Paul Kemp is styled in a classic white polo and trousers in the 2011 comedy-drama film The Rum Diary (Credit: GK Films / Infinitum Nihil / FilmEngine)

Production moved forward in 2007, with Amber Heard cast as Chenault, a role she won over other high-profile actresses. She later told the Huffington Post that it was a “dream job,” as she was a longtime fan of Hunter S. Thompson.

At the Los Angeles premiere of The Rum Diary on October 13, 2011, Amber Heard turned heads in a bold red look. The strapless chiffon gown by Elie Saab featured a thigh-high slit that highlighted her long legs, while nude Christian Louboutin peep-toe pumps added height and polish.

The neutral heels, a classic choice for elongation, complemented her elegant updo and minimal jewelry, underscoring her status as a rising red-carpet style star.

Amber Heard wearing a red strapless chiffon Elie Saab gown with nude Christian Louboutin peep-toe pumps at the Los Angeles premiere of The Rum Diary on October 13, 2011 (Credit: INFevents)

In the film, Depp plays journalist Paul Kemp, who takes a freelance assignment in Puerto Rico and meets Chenault, played by Heard.

Shot on location in 2009, The Rum Diary struggled at the box office but gained notoriety as the project where the two actors first collaborated.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard started filming The Rum Diary in Puerto Rico on March 25, 2009, when he was 45 and she was 22 years old (Credit: GK Films / Infinitum Nihil / FilmEngine)

Critics found The Rum Diary underwhelming, with Heard’s character noted for being underdeveloped. The two actors would not collaborate again until London Fields, which entered production in 2013.

London Fields Premiere: Sequined Elie Saab Dress & Louboutin Iriza Pumps

Adapted from Martin Amis’s 1989 novel, the project faced years of delays before filming began. Canadian director David Cronenberg was once attached to the role, although it eventually shifted to other filmmakers.

At the West Hollywood premiere of London Fields on October 25, 2018, Amber Heard embraced full-on glamour. She chose a sequined black Elie Saab midi dress with strong shoulders and a daring thigh-high slit, paired with Christian Louboutin’s “Iriza” d’Orsay pumps.

The patent leather heels, along with diamond drop earrings and a bold red lip, gave the look a polished finish that highlighted her signature red-carpet confidence.

Amber Heard in a black sequined Elie Saab midi dress with Christian Louboutin “Iriza” d’Orsay pumps at the West Hollywood premiere of London Fields on October 25, 2018 (Credit: Sara De Boer / Startraksphoto)

Director Matthew Cullen eventually took over, and production began in London in 2013 with Heard and Billy Bob Thornton in the lead roles.

Thornton played Samson Young, a terminally ill American writer, while Heard portrayed Nicola Six, a clairvoyant who foresees her own murder.

Amber Heard as Nicola Six wears a black lace dress with gloves and a veiled headpiece, alongside Theo James as Guy Clinch and Jim Sturgess as Keith Talent in the 2018 mystery thriller London Fields (Credit: GVN Releasing)

Depp appeared in a small cameo, one of the few performances noted positively. The film was pulled from the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and received overwhelmingly negative reviews, while disputes over the final cut further complicated its release.

Amber Heard wears a black lace dress with gloves, a veiled headpiece, and classic black pumps while filming London Fields in London on September 19, 2013 (Credit: WENN)

Disputes during production further delayed the film’s release until 2018, when it opened to overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics like Peter Sobczynski of RogerEbert.com gave it one of the lowest ratings possible, calling it “a boring and garish mess.”

Across both The Rum Diary and London Fields, the pair failed to create convincing on-screen chemistry. Despite high-profile casting and source material, neither project resonated with audiences or critics.

Amber Heard, in a sleek black dress with statement earrings, poses alongside Johnny Depp in a dark coat and newsboy cap at the Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards (Credit: Arnold Wells / WENN)

While Amber Heard’s films with Johnny Depp may not have found critical success, her red-carpet style has consistently drawn attention. From bold gowns to statement footwear, she has carved out a reputation as a fashion risk-taker with a strong shoe game.

Amber Heard’s Signature Shoe & Fashion Highlights