Johnny Depp isn't just an actor anymore; he's a sort of cultural lightning rod. Everyone has an opinion on him, but if you actually look at the Johnny Depp dating history across the decades, it’s not just a list of names. It’s a wild, sometimes messy, and deeply intense timeline of a man who seems to fall in love with the idea of "forever" about every five minutes.
People think they know the story because of the headlines. They don't. From a teenage marriage in Florida to the quiet life in the French countryside, the reality is way more nuanced than a tabloid snippet.
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The Florida Years and the First Mrs. Depp
Most people forget that Johnny was a married man before he was even famous. Back in 1983, he was a 20-year-old musician trying to make it with his band, The Kids. He married Lori Anne Allison, a makeup artist who was five years older than him.
They didn't have money. They moved to LA to chase the dream, and honestly, Lori is the reason we even have Johnny Depp the actor. She introduced him to Nicolas Cage, who told him to try acting. They divorced in 1985, but they're still on good terms. Think about that: his first wife still speaks well of him decades later. That says something.
The Era of Ring Obsession: Sherilyn, Jennifer, and Winona
The late 80s were basically a blur of engagements for Johnny. He met Sherilyn Fenn (of Twin Peaks fame) on the set of a short film called Dummies. They were together for about three years and were reportedly engaged.
Then came Jennifer Grey. Right after her Dirty Dancing peak. They were engaged within two weeks of meeting. Two weeks! It didn't last, obviously.
But then came the big one. Winona Ryder.
If you were alive in 1989, you know this was the "It" couple. He was 26, she was 17. They met at a premiere, and Johnny described it as a classic movie moment where everything else goes foggy. They were together for four years. He got "Winona Forever" tattooed on his arm. When they broke up in 1993, he didn't just get it removed; he changed it to "Wino Forever."
It’s kind of funny, but also a bit sad. He later admitted that being so public about their love probably killed the relationship. The pressure of the paparazzi was just too much for two young, sensitive actors.
Kate Moss and the Trashed Hotel Rooms
In 1994, Johnny met Kate Moss at Cafe Tabac in New York. This was the peak of the "heroin chic" era, and they were the poster children for grunge glamour. They were beautiful, they were edgy, and they were clearly volatile.
There’s that famous story about the Mark Hotel in New York. Johnny was arrested for trashing a $1,200-a-night suite while Kate was reportedly sleeping in the room. He claimed an armadillo jumped out of the closet and did it.
You can't make this stuff up.
Despite the chaos, Kate Moss has never had a bad word to say about him. During the 2022 defamation trial, she actually testified for him, debunking the rumor that he’d ever pushed her down stairs. She said he was the only person who truly took care of her for a while. They split for good in 1998, and Kate said she cried for "years" afterward.
Fourteen Years of Quiet: Vanessa Paradis
This is the most significant chapter of the Johnny Depp dating history—the one that actually felt stable. In 1998, while filming The Ninth Gate in France, he saw Vanessa Paradis sitting at a bar across a room. He saw her back and her neck, and he was done.
They never married. Johnny said he didn't want to ruin her last name, which is a very "Johnny" thing to say. They had two kids: Lily-Rose and Jack. For over a decade, Johnny was basically a family man living in a French village, making jam and staying away from Hollywood.
It was the most "normal" he’s ever been. But in 2012, it ended. Amicably, they said. But soon after, the chaos returned.
The Amber Heard Disaster
We all know this part. It’s been dissected in two different countries and on a televised trial that felt like a fever dream. They met on the set of The Rum Diary in 2009 but didn't start dating until 2012.
They married in 2015. They were divorced by 2016.
The fallout from this relationship changed his career and his life. The allegations of abuse, the "wife-beater" libel case in the UK, and the 2022 defamation trial in Virginia are well-documented. What’s interesting is how it divided the world. Regardless of which side people took, this relationship was the total opposite of the peace he found with Vanessa. It was loud, litigious, and tragic.
Where is Johnny Depp Now? (2024-2026)
After the trial, Johnny stayed mostly in London and Europe. He didn't jump back into a massive, public marriage. He was linked to Joelle Rich, one of the lawyers from his UK trial, but that was a "casual" thing that fizzled out by late 2022.
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By 2024 and through 2025, rumors started swirling about Yulia Vlasova, a Russian model and esthetician. They’ve been seen together in Prague and London. Sources close to him say it’s casual. No labels. No "chick's rings" on his fingers this time.
More recently, there have been whispers about a Spanish influencer, but honestly? It seems like he's finally learned to keep things quiet. At 62, he seems more focused on his art, his music with the Hollywood Vampires, and staying out of the courtroom.
What We Can Learn From the Timeline
- The "All-In" Pattern: Johnny is a serial monogamist who commits 100% almost immediately. This is great for romance, but tough for long-term stability.
- The Power of Privacy: His longest and most successful relationship (Paradis) was his most private. His most disastrous (Heard) was his most public.
- Legacy Over Labels: He has a history of staying friends with his exes (Lori, Winona, Kate, Vanessa). That’s a rare feat in Hollywood and suggests a level of character that often gets lost in the headlines.
If you’re tracking the Johnny Depp dating history, don't just look for the drama. Look at the transitions. He’s a man who has lived several different lives through the women he's loved. From the young rocker to the Hollywood heartthrob to the French father and, finally, to the survivor of the tabloid machine.
To stay truly updated on how his current "casual" vibes are evolving, keep an eye on his European tours rather than the Hollywood red carpets. That's where he actually spends his time these days. Check for updates on his recent gallery shows in London, as he’s been spending a lot of time with the art crowd lately. This shift away from the "actor" persona to the "artist" persona usually dictates who he's spending time with behind the scenes.