Born on April 22, 1986, Amber Heard is an American film and television actress raised in Austin, Texas. Her father was a contractor, and her mother was an Internet researcher for the state. As a teenager, Heard became a member of her school’s drama department. She attended St. Michael’s Catholic Academy, but left it during her junior year so she could pursue a career in Hollywood. When she was only 16, her view on life changed when she lost her best friend in a car crash. She was raised a Catholic, but was introduced to the writings of Ayn Rand and eventually proclaimed herself to be an atheist. Upon leaving St. Michael’s, she moved to New York to try out modeling. She didn’t enjoy it, so she decided to travel to Los Angeles and become an actress.
When she was 18, Amber Heard acquired a number of roles on television and film. She was in an episode of Jack & Bobby and the sport drama Friday Night Lights. She has featured in guest roles in the series The Mountain, and was also in The O.C. in 2005. Her film roles include playing Candy in the movie Drop Dead Sexy. Heard next portrayed the character Serena in the television drama The Prince. This was followed by appearances in Alpha Dog and Criminal Minds, before she landed her breakthrough role. Heard played the title character in All the Boys Love Mandy Lane in 2006. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival that year, and was released in 2008. She was then given roles in Day 73 with Sarah and The Beautiful Ordinary in 2007. Her best-known role is as Greta Matthews in the series Hidden Palms, the CW television show. She was next seen on an episode of Californication, and was in 2008’s Never Back Down.