Amber Heard donates $7m divorce settlement to domestic violence charity and children's hospital

After months of a very public battle, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp finalised their divorce as the Pirates Of The Caribbean star agreed to pay The Danish Girl actress a settlement of $7m (£5.33m). Now, Heard has announced that she is planning to donate the large sum to two charities – one for victims of domestic abuse and another that works with sick children.

In a statement released on 18 August, the actress reiterated that the lawsuit was not an attempt to get money from her A-List ex-husband. "As described in the restraining order and divorce settlement, money played no role for me personally and never has," she stated. "I know these organisations will put the funds to good use and look forward to continuing to support them in the future. Hopefully, this experience results in a positive change in the lives of people who need it the most."

The 30-year-old said that the complete amount received in the divorce settlement would be given away. "The donation will be divided equally between the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), with a particular focus to stop violence against women, and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, where I have worked as a volunteer for the past 10 years alongside organisations like the Art of Elysium," she said. "Over the years, I have seen firsthand how more funding for staffing, better equipment and better medication can make the difference between life or death for a child."

In May 2016, Heard revealed that she had been physically abused by Depp during their marriage and sought a restraining order against the Blow actor. However, Depp denied the charges and his attorney alleged that the actress was fabricating stories to obtain a more favourable settlement. Heard has now withdrawn the domestic violence charges against her former husband.

In a joint statement released earlier this week, the two celebrities stated: "Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love... Neither party has made false accusations for financial gains. There was never an intent of physical or emotional harm."