A mber Heard has opened up about how being a stepmother to Johnny Depp’s children has ‘changed’ her life.

The 29-year-old, who wed the A-lister earlier this year, has said that having Lily-Rose, 16, and Jack, 13, in her life is a ‘surprising gift.’

In a new interview with Marie Claire, Heard said: “It's an honour and the greatest, most surprising gift I have ever received in my life.

“I feel new flavours that I didn't know existed. New colours that I didn't know existed have been added to my life. I'm so happy.”

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The star also spoke about the gender pay gap in Hollywood, following in the footsteps of Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Watson.

“If I were a man, I'd be allowed to play roles that were compelling and drove an audience to an emotional response,” she said.

Heard believes that her own parents helped her develop a healthy attitude to work and making money.

She said: “'You respect what it takes to earn it [money], and it also gives you a certain resilience, because it minimizes this false notion that that's what matters.”

Heard, who appears in The Danish Girl, will appear in court in Australia next year charged with illegally importing her pet dogs into the country.

In a statement released last month, the actress said that she was ‘looking forward’ to fighting the charges.