Johnny Depp's Drug Use Began At 11 After Taking His Mom's 'Nerve Pills'

Johnny Depp revealed details about his drug use during the first day of the trial of his libel case against The Sun’s publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN).

During Tuesday’s hearing, NGN’s lawyer, Sasha Wass QC, asked Depp about his history with alcohol and drug use, BBC reported. According to People, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star admitted that he began using drugs at a young age "when it was not a particularly stable or secure or safe home life."

Depp then went on to narrate how his drug use started. "My mother used to ask me to go and get her 'nerve pills' and I think I was around the age of 11 that it dawned on me that 'nerve pills' were calming her nerves, so I brought her her nerve pills and I took one and that began [my drug use]," he added.

According to court documents, Depp was allegedly already recovering from alcoholism and drug use during "significant parts" of his and ex-wife Amber Heard’s marriage. But he claimed she didn't support his sobriety and allegedly encouraged him to drink and use drugs again.

In the witness statement he filed in December last year, he admitted that he began drinking and using drugs when he was a child – a fact that he has never been embarrassed to admit. However, Depp argued that the way the “Defendants have sought to portray this problem is not a fair or accurate reflection of the reality of addiction."

Depp maintained that his alcohol and drug use had not made him violent toward anyone. Heard had previously accused the actor of physically assaulting her while they were married, an allegation she revealed in an op-ed.

For this, Depp slapped her with a $50-million defamation suit. He had vehemently denied Heard’s claims and said that he was the one who suffered domestic abuse.

Tuesday’s testimony is part of the libel case he filed against NGN, the publisher of The Sun, over the tabloid calling him a "wife-beater" in an article.

Aside from opening up about his drug use, Depp also talked about his failed marriage with Heard.

Depp said that Heard may have defecated on their bed as a prank after her birthday party in 2016. The "Aquaman" star blamed their dogs, but he said their pets were too small to reach the bed and leave a large poop. According to Depp, he decided to divorce Heard due to this incident.