‘I was able to choose this’: Amber Heard quietly plots her comeback while everyone was busy forgetting about her

Amber Heard is making her way back to acting, starting with a new theater production. The 39-year-old actress will star in Jeremy O. Harris’s new play Spirit of the People, which will be her first acting role since 2023.

According to People, the actress shared a selfie with playwright Harris on Instagram, announcing her return with the caption “In my theatre era x.” The photo marks a rare social media appearance for Heard, who has kept a low profile since moving to Madrid after her widely publicized legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp that concluded with a jury verdict in 2022.

While the world’s attention had shifted elsewhere, Heard was quietly building her personal life. In May 2023, she welcomed twins, Agnes and Ocean, sharing the news on Instagram. “I am eternally grateful that I was able to choose this responsibly and thoughtfully,” she wrote about her journey to motherhood, adding that becoming a mother on her own terms was the most humbling experience of her life.

Cast announcement reveals more details about the upcoming production

The world-premiere production of Spirit of the People will feature Heard alongside Brandon Flynn and Lío Mehiel. The play, directed by Katina Medina Mora, is set to debut at the 2025 Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, running from July 17 to August 3.

Before this theatrical return, Heard’s last acting appearances were in two 2023 films: the indie thriller In the Fire and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, where she reprised her controversial role as Mera despite widespread calls for her removal from the sequel.

The new play, according to Harris, will push creative boundaries. The 36-year-old playwright told Variety that half the play is in Spanish, despite him not speaking the language. The production will also include notable actors like Ato Blankson-Wood, Zachary Booth, James Cusati-Moyer, and others.

This theatrical debut marks a significant shift in Heard’s career, as she balances her return to acting with motherhood. Besides her 4-year-old daughter Oonagh, she is now also mother to twins, making her, as she described, “bursting times three” with joy. The move appears to be a carefully planned step in rebuilding both her personal and professional life away from past controversies.