Who Is Johnny Depp's Ex-Girlfriend? All About Joelle Rich

Mar. 15, 2025

In September 2022, a source confirmed to PEOPLE thatJohnny Depphad started datingattorney Joelle Rich. “They are dating but it’s not serious,” the source said. Just two months later, however, news broke that thepair had split.The two originally worked together during his2020 U.K. libel trial, when the actor suedThe Sunfor calling him a “wife-beater.” The court upheld the outlet’s claims as being “substantially true” (and his ex-wife Amber Heard testified to back up the claims). In March 2021, his attempt tooverturn the decision was overruled.Rich was not on Depp’s legal team for his subsequentVirginia defamation trial against Heard.From her background as a lawyer to their split, here’s everything to know about Joelle Rich.Johnny Depp; Joelle Rich.Getty; ShutterstockShe’s married but estranged from her husbandA source confirmed to PEOPLE that while Rich was married while dating Depp,she was estrangedfrom her husband.She’s a momAdditionally,Us Weekly(who first broke the story) reportsthat Rich is a mom, sharing two children with her estranged husband. She shared that in common with Depp,who has two children of his own, daughter Lily-Rose Depp and son Jack Depp, whom he shares withex Vanessa Paradis.Joelle Rich hugs Camille Vasquez on May 16, 2022.STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via GettyShe showed up to support Johnny Depp during his recent trialThough Rich was not on Depp’s legal team for the Virginia defamation trial against Heard earlier this year,she did show up to support him, attending several proceedings inside the courtroom. Rich was also spotted hugging Depp’s attorneyCamille Vasquezinside the courtroom on May 16 and later was seen exiting the courthouse with Depp and his team on May 19.She’s based in the U.K.Joelle Rich and Johnny Depp on May 3, 2022.Ron Sachs/Consolidated News Pictures/GettyRich is based in London, where she is a partner at the international law firm Schillings,per her LinkedIn. According toher bio on the company website, Rich “helps individuals and families in the public eye protect their privacy and reputations” and has “expertise in libel, privacy and copyright disputes.” She “works to defend [clients'] reputations against false and defamatory allegations in print, online and on social media.“She graduated from the University of BirminghamBefore working at Schillings, Rich studied at the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, England, from 2003 to 2006, earning a degree in law. She later went BPP Law School in London from 2006 to 2007, where she studied legal practice course,per her LinkedIn.She previously represented Meghan MarkleDepp isn’t the only big name Rich has represented. Her firm previously representedMeghan Marklein acase against the publishersof theMail on Sundayin 2021.

The two originally worked together during his2020 U.K. libel trial, when the actor suedThe Sunfor calling him a “wife-beater.” The court upheld the outlet’s claims as being “substantially true” (and his ex-wife Amber Heard testified to back up the claims). In March 2021, his attempt tooverturn the decision was overruled.

Rich was not on Depp’s legal team for his subsequentVirginia defamation trial against Heard.

From her background as a lawyer to their split, here’s everything to know about Joelle Rich.

Johnny Depp; Joelle Rich.Getty; Shutterstock

Johnny Depp ;Joelle Rich

She’s married but estranged from her husband

A source confirmed to PEOPLE that while Rich was married while dating Depp,she was estrangedfrom her husband.

She’s a mom

Additionally,Us Weekly(who first broke the story) reportsthat Rich is a mom, sharing two children with her estranged husband. She shared that in common with Depp,who has two children of his own, daughter Lily-Rose Depp and son Jack Depp, whom he shares withex Vanessa Paradis.

Joelle Rich hugs Camille Vasquez on May 16, 2022.STEVE HELBER/POOL/AFP via Getty

Attorney Joelle Rich hugs attorney Camille Vasquez, back to camera, as attorney Ben Chew (R) looks on, at the end of the daily proceedings at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, May 16, 2022

She showed up to support Johnny Depp during his recent trial

Though Rich was not on Depp’s legal team for the Virginia defamation trial against Heard earlier this year,she did show up to support him, attending several proceedings inside the courtroom. Rich was also spotted hugging Depp’s attorneyCamille Vasquezinside the courtroom on May 16 and later was seen exiting the courthouse with Depp and his team on May 19.

She’s based in the U.K.

Joelle Rich and Johnny Depp on May 3, 2022.Ron Sachs/Consolidated News Pictures/Getty

Johnny Depp look at his smartphone with his UK legal Counsel Joelle Rich during an afternoon recess outside court during the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard civil trial at Fairfax County Circuit Court on May 3, 2022 i

Rich is based in London, where she is a partner at the international law firm Schillings,per her LinkedIn. According toher bio on the company website, Rich “helps individuals and families in the public eye protect their privacy and reputations” and has “expertise in libel, privacy and copyright disputes.” She “works to defend [clients'] reputations against false and defamatory allegations in print, online and on social media.”

She graduated from the University of Birmingham

Before working at Schillings, Rich studied at the University of Birmingham in Birmingham, England, from 2003 to 2006, earning a degree in law. She later went BPP Law School in London from 2006 to 2007, where she studied legal practice course,per her LinkedIn.

She previously represented Meghan Markle

Depp isn’t the only big name Rich has represented. Her firm previously representedMeghan Marklein acase against the publishersof theMail on Sundayin 2021.

source: people.com