A timeline of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's relationship and legal battle

Opening arguments for a multimillion-dollar defamation case begin on Tuesday

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  A mutual friend said that Johnny Depp and his wife Amber Heard were very in love yet often 'vicious' towards one another.

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  Johnny Depp leaves court after jury selection in his $50 million defamation lawsuit against former wife Heard. EPA

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  US actress Amber Heard leaves the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia on April 11. AFP

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  Depp filed a defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard, after she wrote an opinion piece in 'The Washington Post' in 2018 that, without naming him, accused him of domestic abuse. Reuters

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  Jury selection began on April 11 in the defamation case involving allegations of spousal abuse between Depp and Heard. AFP

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  Depp fan David Laman holds a poster outside the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse as jury selection progressed. Reuters

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  Tiffany Lunn, a supporter of Depp, outside the court in Fairfax, Virginia. AP

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  Johnny Depp fans at the courthouse. AP

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  The defamation case brought by Depp against former wife Heard is expected to last between five and six week. Reuters

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  Depp leaves the High Court in London, England, on July 22, 2020, during the libel case there. Reuters

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  Heard arrives at the High Court in London. Reuters

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  Depp and Heard at the 72nd Venice Film Festival in northern Italy, 2015. Reuters

Opening arguments will begin on Tuesday in the multimillion-dollar defamation case between Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp and his former wife, actress Amber Heard, whose allegations of spousal abuse are under the microscope.

A jury was picked on Monday to hear the suit brought by Depp, 58, against Heard, 35, in Fairfax County Circuit Court in Virginia.

Here is a timeline of the legal twists and turns of the tumultuous Hollywood romance.

2011

Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard begin dating after meeting on the set of comedy film The Rum Diary.

2013

Depp is alleged to have been physically violent to Heard for the first time early in the year.

Heard claims the actor slapped her three times after she joked about a tattoo he got on his arm during his relationship with actress Winona Ryder. He denies the allegation.

2015

Depp and Heard marry at a private ceremony in Los Angeles in February.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were married when they were cast in 'London Fields'. AP

The couple takes a trip to Australia in March, which Heard describes as "a three-day hostage situation", claiming Depp is abusive while drinking heavily and taking drugs.

Depp again denies the allegations and says Heard lost her temper after a conversation about a post-nuptial agreement.

2016

In May, the pair separate after an incident in which Heard claims Depp became angry at their Los Angeles penthouse and destroyed property with a bottle of champagne.

Heard files a petition for the dissolution of their marriage as well as a temporary domestic violence restraining order, which prevents Depp from contacting her.

The estranged couple reach an agreement concerning the dissolution of their marriage. Heard later donates her $7 million settlement to charity.

2017

The couple become formally divorced in January.

2018

An article by The Sun newspaper's executive editor Dan Wootton is published in April, in which he refers to Depp as a "wife-beater" in the headline.

The actor files his libel claim against News Group Newspapers, the owner of The Sun.

Heard publishes an op-ed in The Washington Post in December, which deals with her personal experiences of domestic violence.

It is titled I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change, but does not mention Depp by name.

2019

Depp launches a $50 million defamation lawsuit against Heard, with his lawyers claiming the article falsely implies she was physically and sexually abused by the actor when they were married.

He claims the piece caused him to be dropped from the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise and that Heard was the one who had been abusive towards him.

2020

The pair meet in the Royal Courts Of Justice in London for Depp's NGN libel suit, which was delayed owing to the coronavirus crisis.

Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court in London in July 2020. AP Photo

Following a 16-day trial in July, a judge finds the content of the article proven to be "substantially true".

Justice Nicol dismisses Depp's plea to challenge his ruling at the Court of Appeal.

Depp's lawyers file grounds of appeal with the Court of Appeal, claiming the actor "did not receive a fair trial" and that Justice Nicol's ruling is "plainly wrong" and "manifestly unsafe".

2021

The UK Court Of Appeal refuses permission for Depp to appeal against the High Court ruling.

2022

Depp's 2019 defamation case against Heard, also delayed owing to the pandemic, begins on April 12.

Witness lists reveal that several high-profile celebrities are due to give testimony, including actors James Franco and Paul Bettany, and Tesla founder Elon Musk.

- AFP and PA contributed to this report