A ctress Amber Heard claimed she “hid” violent abuse by husband Johnny Depp from her friends and entourage, the High Court has heard.

The 34-year-old recorded herself speaking to her former interior designer, Laura Divenere, after taking public her claims of domestic abuse against Depp.

“It’s not your fault, you didn’t know”, Heard tells Ms Divenere. “I hid it from everyone.. it’s what people do.”

Ms Divenere had made a statement in support of Depp in the US, but told Heard she had been “pressurised” into signing it and insisted it was not the truth.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 1 /105 Johnny Depp and Amber Heard at High Court: July 2020 Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on the first day .Jeremy Selwyn Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on the first day PA Johnny Depp on the first day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN) AFP via Getty Images Amber Heard with her sister Whitney Heard on the first day Johnny Depp's libel case PA Johnny Depp wearing a face covering AFP via Getty Images) Johnny Depp (right) being cross-examined by Sasha Wass QC (left) before the judge, Mr Justice Nicol, at the High Court on 7 July PA Amber Heard waves as she arrives at the High Court on the second day PA Johnny Depp arrives on the second day of the hearing his libel case Reuters AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images Johnny Depp (L) arrives on the third day of his libel trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July Reuters Photo showing Amber Heard injury alleged to have been caused by Johnny Depp An image Heard said was taken after this incident, showing a bruise on her arm. Lines of cocaine on a table that were allegedly taken by actor Johnny Depp PA An image of Johnny Depp apparently passed out on the floor Amber Heard and Bianca Butti leave the Royal Courts of Justice on 9 July Getty Images Amber Heard (R) arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 9 July AP Amber Heard arrives on the third day of the libel trial by her former husband US actor Johnny Depp against News Group Newspapers (NGN), at the High Court on 9 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp photo spilt ice cream photo referred to in court Amber Heard American actor Johnny Depp gestures to the media as he arrives at the High Court on 13 July AP Amber Heard's pet teacup Yorkshire Terriers Pistol and Boo which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA One of the pictures shown in court Actor Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 14 July PA Johnny Depp with injuries allegedly sustained from Amber Heard during an incident in Los Angeles PA Amber Heard being questioned by Sasha Wass QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London on 20 July Elizabeth Cook/PA Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 20 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Monday where she is due to give evidence against former husband Johnny Depp on 20 July PA Amber Heard image which has been referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court on 20 July PA Johnny Depp arrives at Royal Courts of Justice on 21 July Getty Images Amber Heard with a bruising on her face, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court in London PA Amber Heard being cross examined by Eleanor Laws QC as she gives evidence at the High Court in London during a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Amber Heard with a friend, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court in London for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 21 July PA Johnny Depp leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in his libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Video deposition of Amber Heard in US proceedings, which was referred to as an exhibit in the hearing of Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the High Court PA Johnny Depp with a cast on his hand PA Amber Heard leaves the High Court in London following a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July PA Actress Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 22 July AP Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on Wednesday morning for a hearing in Johnny Depp's libel case against the publishers of The Sun and its executive editor, Dan Wootton on 22 July Getty Images PA PA PA PA PA PA PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July Reuters Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July REUTERS Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July PA Amber Heard arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July AFP via Getty Images Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court on 23 July Getty Images Amber Heard with her girlfriend Bianca Butti arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Amber Heard arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on 24 July Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS PA AFP via Getty Images REUTERS Getty Images AFP via Getty Images SplashNews.com PA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images REUTERS SplashNews.com REUTERS

“I knew what was going on”, Ms Divenere said. “You’ve been living this whole nightmare for four years straight.”

The 19-minute recording was played at the High Court this afternoon as Ms Divenere gave evidence via videolink from Los Angeles.

Ms Divenere says she told Depp’s lawyer Heard had not been “black and blue”, but told the actress she knew she had seen her 'all swollen and red and she has been crying”.

But in her declaration to a US court, dated June last year, Ms Divenere said she had been with Heard in May 2016, including on the days after the actress says she was hit with a phone by Depp and subsequently filed for a restraining order.

“On those days I worked with Amber, retrieved packages for her, rode elevators with her, and saw her up close and in person”, she wrote.

“On none of those days immediately following the abuse claims did I observe any signs of physical abuse or injury, including any redness, swelling, cuts, bruising, or damage of any kind.

“I have never seen Ms Heard with any signs of physical abuse or injury, including redness, swelling, cuts, bruising, or damage of any kind.

“I never saw Amber injured in any way.”

She called Depp “delightful” and added: “I never witnessed him being aggressive with anyone.”

Giving evidence this afternoon, Ms Divenere insisted the account she gave to Heard on the recording was the truth.

The final witness to be called today was actress and #MeToo activist Katherine Kendall, who accused Harvey Weinstein of harassing her in the 1990s.

She told the court the decision to publicly accuse Weinstein had been ”absolutely one of the scariest, most difficult things I've ever done'.

Ms Kendall was called to give evidence as she had been quoted in the Sun article at the centre of the libel trial, which dubbed Depp a ‘wife beater’ and criticised author JK Rowling for backing the actor as the star of her ‘Fantastic Beasts…’ films.

The article, by Sun executive editor Dan Wootton, had suggested Ms Kendall had spoken out to challenge Ms Rowling.

“Although it was true that I was a victim of Harvey Weinstein, the rest was a lie”, she said in her witness statement.

“I was not ‘going public’ on behalf of #MeToo or myself to criticize JK Rowling's decision to cast Mr Depp, nor did I accuse Mr Depp of hurting Amber Heard, about which I have no first-hand knowledge.”

Johnny Depp arrives for ninth day of High Court libel trial

Ms Kendall said she was approached at her apartment by a 'persistent' woman called Zoe ahead of the article being published, and she eventually agreed to speak to her out of “politeness” .

“The Sun's purpose was to present the appearance of a #MeToo backlash against JK Rowling for casting John Christopher Depp II in her 'Fantastic Beasts' film”, she wrote.

“When I read the article, I realized that I had been completely misquoted and misused by The Sun to accomplish their goal.

“In my brief interview, I had actually said many of the opposite things that The Sun had falsely quoted me as saying.”

Earlier an artist friend of Depp's, Isaac Baruch, called Heard's allegations 'phony baloney' and insisted he had never seen injuries on the actress despite living in the same penthouse complex in LA.

David Sherborne, for Depp, formally closed his case this afternoon.

On Monday, Heard is due to enter the witness box to start giving evidence on behalf of The Sun. The trial continues.