Johnny Depp returns to red carpet as first film since trial opens Cannes

Johnny Depp has appeared on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, ahead of his first movie since the Amber Heard defamation trial opening the festival.

Jeanne du Barry, directed by and starring French actress Maiwenn, sees the Pirates of the Caribbean star play King Louis XV.

Cannes will be hosting the world premiere of the French costume drama, which follows the titular character as she rises up and falls from social rungs of 18th century society.

Depp’s appearance on the red carpet comes after he won a defamation case in June against his ex-wife Hollywood actress Amber, 36, over a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post where she described herself as a ‘public figure representing domestic abuse’.

Although the 59-year-old actor was not named in the piece, in the televised trial the Willy Wonka actor’s legal team argued that it implied he was sexually and physically abusive over the course of their relationship – which he has firmly denied.

Depp won $15million (£12million) in damages, while only one of Heard’s three countersuit claims was successful, and she was awarded $2m (£1.6m).

His film industry comeback now sees him appear on the red carpet of the prestigious event alongside the likes of Dame Helen Mirren and Naomi Campbell.

In several pictures, Depp posed alongside Maiwenn, who wore a black gown, matching his black suit.

The French-language film also stars Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Richard, Pierre Richard, Melvil Poupaud, Pascal Greggory and India Hair.

Jeanne du Barry has courted further controversy after Maïwenn reportedly admitted to assaulting a French journalist by pulling his fair and spitting in his face.

Depp starring in the film which opens the festival comes after the chief of Cannes Film Festival, Thierry Fremaux, addressed claims that the industry will ‘do anything to defend its rapist chiefs’.

Actress Adele Haenel claimed that industry ‘silenced’ anyone making allegations against insider, saying: ‘It bothers them that the victims make too much noise.’

She went on: ‘They would prefer that we disappear and die in silence.’

In a letter to French magazine Telerama, she added: ‘They’re ready to do anything to defend their rapist chiefs, those who are so rich that they believe they belong to a superior species, those who make a show of this superiority by objectifying women and subordinates.’

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the festival’s opening night, Fremaux said: ‘She [Adele] didn’t think that when she came to Cannes unless she suffered from a crazy dissonance.

‘People use Cannes to talk about certain issues and it’s normal because we give them a platform.’

He added to journalists: ‘If you thought that it’s a festival for rapists, you wouldn’t be here listening to me, you would not be complaining that you can’t get tickets to get into screenings.’

Touching upon Depp’s film amid the backlash, he went on: ‘I don’t know about the image of Johnny Depp in the U.S. To tell you the truth, in my life, I only have one rule, it’s the freedom of thinking, and the freedom of speech and acting within a legal framework.

‘If Johnny Depp had been banned from acting in a film, or the film was banned we wouldn’t be here talking about it.’

Also in attendance at the world premiere of the film were the likes of Catherine Zeta-Jones who looked glamorous in a red gown and supermodel Naomi, pairing sunglasses with her silver sequined dress.

Elsewhere on the red carpet, Uma Thurman opted for a bright red cloak over her baby pink gown, while Elle Fanning sparkled in a sequined number with a detailed bodice as she posed on the carpet.

Meanwhile, Dame Helen Mirren matched her locks to her bright blue dress, as her long dyed hair was tied up in a messy bun framing her face.

She completed her look with a fan, posing with the handpiece in several pictures.

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