Johnny Depp has revealed he gave daughter Lily-Rose marijuana when she was just 13 years old, claiming it was ‘responsible parenting’.

The revelations were made in court on Tuesday, as the actor, 57, and his ex-wife Amber Heard, 34, appeared in Depp’s trial against News Group Newspapers after The Sun branded him a ‘wife beater’ in 2018.

In his testimony, the From Hell star said that he wanted Lily-Rose, now 21 and an actress, to feel ‘safe’ with the drug in her early teenage years.

Revelations: Johnny Depp has revealed he gave daughter Lily-Rose marijuana when she was just 13 years old, claiming it was ‘responsible parenting’

He was discussing aspects of his family life as he took the stand.

He shares Lily-Rose and her brother Jack, 18, with his ex Vanessa Paradis. 

He also credited Sir Elton John for helping him get sober following his split from Paradis, it was revealed on Tuesday.

During the proceedings at the High Court in London, Sasha Wass, QC, representing The Sun, referred to the actor making ‘a real effort… to clean yourself up’ following the break-up in 2012.

‘Responsible parenting’: In his testimony, the From Hell star said that he wanted Lily-Rose, now 21 and an actress, to feel ‘safe’ with the drug in her early teenage years [pictured at the 2019 Met Gala in New York City]

Father figure: He was discussing aspects of his family life as he took the stand [pictured with Lily-Rose and his son Jack in 2013]

On the stand: The revelations were made in court on Tuesday, as the actor, 57, and his ex-wife Amber Heard, 34, appeared in Depp’s trial against News Group Newspapers after The Sun branded him a ‘wife beater’ in 2018

Testimony: He shares Lily-Rose and her brother Jack, 18, with his ex Vanessa Paradis [she is pictured last year with Lily-Rose]

The actor replied: ‘I got sober off alcohol and remained sober… I can’t remember exactly how long but it was a long while.’

The lawyer referred to an email Depp sent to Sir Elton on March 22 2012 with the subject ‘100 days’.

The email read: ‘My dearest Elton, 100 f****** days of clarity for an old reprobate t**t like me. No one would ever have believed it possible but for a select few, most importantly you.’

Ms Wass said Depp began using the term ‘the monster’ to describe his drunken alter ego, as she revealed how the Rocketman hitmaker helped him go straight. 

Support: Depp credited Sir Elton John (pictured in 1980) for helping him get sober after his split from Vanessa Paradis, it was revealed in his case against Amber Heard on Tuesday

Hearing: During the proceedings at the High Court in London, an email Depp sent to Sir Elton in 2012 saw him thank the singer for believing in him as he reached ‘100 f****** days of clarity’

Former flame: Paradis and Depp split in 2012 following a 14-year relationship from which they share daughter Lily Rose Depp, 21, and son Jack Depp, 18 (pictured in 2006)

But Depp said it was ‘a simple fact’ that he ‘would have been swallowed up by the monster’ as he meant he ‘would have been consumed by this poison – the monster here is death’. 

The message also referred to his ‘brain and liver resembling Mrs Thatcher’ – referring to the former prime minister – and spoke of the ‘eternal savagery against myself’.

It concluded: ‘I would have been swallowed up by the monster were it not for you.’

Paradis and Depp split in 2012 following a 14-year relationship from which they share daughter Lily Rose, 21, and son Jack, 18.  

Candid: Depp was also asked about his excessive drinking towards the end of his 14-year relationship with Paradis, and the actor admitted it ‘was a very painful time’ (pictured in 1999)

The former couple, who never wed, have remained firm friends and even spent last Christmas together in Paris with their children. 

Depp was also asked about his excessive drinking towards the end of his 14-year relationship with Paradis.

He told the court: ‘I would definitely say that towards the end of my relationship with Ms Paradis, the mother of my children, it was a very painful time – to break up with someone that you have been with for 14 years and that you have two children with.

‘So it was a very painful time and I was more than likely trying to numb myself as much as possible.’

Depp said the family was ‘on the verge of falling apart’ and that Ms Paradis was ‘very, very sad’.

He added: ‘I didn’t like making her sad and I didn’t like making my children sad.’

The Hollywood legend is suing The Sun newspaper and has branded those accusations ‘sick and completely untrue’ at a long-awaited blockbuster libel trial.  

During the first day in court, Depp claimed he decided to divorce Heard after she defecated in their marital bed ‘as a prank’ as he denied hitting her and said that she had abused him throughout their marriage. 

Court case: During the first day in court, Depp claimed he decided to divorce Heard after she defecated in their marital bed ‘as a prank’

The actor said Heard or ‘possibly one of her friends’ was responsible for the incident, but claimed she dismissed it as ‘just a harmless prank’. 

It came as Depp accused Heard of being a ‘narcissistic sociopath’ as his defence reeled off a list of incidents in which she had allegedly attacked him.

Among Depp’s claims were that Heard severed his finger by throwing a vodka bottle at him during an incident in Australia in 2015. 

He also said she became ‘verbally aggressive’ on a private chartered flight in late 2014 or early 2015 before chasing him ‘repeatedly punching me in the face’. As Depp fled into the plane’s toilet Heard punched him again, he told the court. 

Proceedings: Depp denied hitting Heard and said that she had abused him throughout their marriage (pictured in 2014), in contrast, the actress’ lawyers painted him as a domestic abuser

In contrast, the actress’ lawyers painted Depp as a domestic abuser who repeatedly attacked her when he was drunk or high on drugs. 

Depp is suing News Group Newspapers, publishers of the Sun and executive editor Dan Wootton over a 2018 article which referred to him as a ‘wife beater’.

It appeared under the headline ‘Gone Potty How can JK Rowling be ‘genuinely happy’ casting wife-beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beasts film?’

Support: Heard was pictured on Tuesday with her entourage outside the entrance of the Royal Courts of Justice, which will host the momentous trial

But in court testimony filed today, Depp claimed Heard was a calculating, narcissistic sociopath who married him to progress her own career.

The Edward Scissorhands actor said nothing in life has upset him as much as Heard’s ‘words and behaviour’ towards him.

Depp said he first met Heard when she auditioned for The Rum Diary, and later reconnected with her when they were promoting the film. 

Who will be called to give evidence? Johnny Depp’s exes Winona Ryder and Vanessa Paradis will make statements at High Court 

Vanessa Paradis is one of Depp’s former partners. She insists he was never abusive towards her 

Vanessa Paradis

Vanessa Paradis is a French singer, actress and model who shot to fame aged just 14 with the song Joe Le Taxi.

She has been a spokesmodel for Chanel for many years and appeared in a number of films, alongside continuing her singing career.

Ms Paradis, 47, was in a relationship with Depp for around 14 years from around 1998. The couple’s daughter, Lily-Rose, is also now pursuing a career as an actress.

Ms Paradis is due to give evidence at the trial, having given a witness statement in which she described her former partner as a ‘kind, attentive, generous and non-violent person and father’.

Winona Ryder is also due to give evidence at the High Court trial

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder is also due to give evidence at the High Court trial as part of his case against News Group Newspapers (NGN).

Ms Ryder was in a relationship with Depp during the early 1990s, and the pair appeared together in Edward Scissorhands.

Depp famously tattooed Winona Forever on his arm. After the couple split, he reportedly changed it to Wino Forever.

Dan Wootton has been The Sun’s Executive Editor since March 2018

Dan Wootton

New Zealand-born Dan Wootton has been The Sun’s Executive Editor since March 2018. The article at the heart of Johnny Depp’s libel claim was written by Mr Wootton for his weekly column in the newspaper.

Mr Wootton also presents the weekday Drivetime show on talkRadio and has his own podcast – The Dan Wootton Interview.

A showbiz reporter for many years, before joining The Sun, Mr Wootton had stints at a number of newspapers and magazines, including the Daily Mail, where he also worked as a columnist, and the now defunct News Of The World, where he was Showbiz Editor.

He was also showbiz presenter for ITV’s Lorraine show for 10 years.