Amber Heard has spoken publicly for the first time in a long while about her high-profile legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp, explaining why she now feels withdrawn from telling her own story.

The actress made the rare comments in a new documentary titled Silenced, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24. In the film, Heard reflects on the emotional toll of the courtroom drama that followed her divorce from Depp, a case that saw both parties accuse each other of abuse.

“I have lost my ability to speak. I am not here to tell my story. I don’t want to tell my story. In fact, I don’t want to use my voice anymore,” Heard says in the documentary.

Now a mother of three, Heard adds that while she no longer wishes to be at the centre of the fight, she draws strength from watching others continue to speak out.

“It gives me strength seeing other people take on the fight,” she says.

Heard and Depp’s bitter legal showdown captivated global audiences and left lasting consequences for both stars. Since the trial, Heard has largely stayed out of the public eye, making her appearance in Silenced one of her most candid reflections on the experience.