Johnny Depp has won his multimillion-dollar US lawsuit against former wife Amber Heard after a Virginia jury ruled a 2018 article published in The Washington Post was defamatory.

He was awarded $15m by the court - comprising $10m compensatory damages and a further $5m in punitive damages - but the judge capped the punitive damages total in accordance with legal limits, resulting in a total of $10.35m.

Amber Heard was awarded $2m in her counter-suit against Depp.

Despite the seven-person jury ruling in favour of Heard on one count in her counter-suit against Depp, the actor depicted the decision as a vindication, and his former wife said it was "a disappointment".

Depp said he was "truly humbled" by the jury's verdict, saying the allegations had a "seismic impact" on his life and career.

"From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome," he said.

"Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me.

"I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that."

Heard, who appeared downcast in court as the verdict was read out, said she was "heartbroken" at the conclusion.

She claimed it "sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated".

She added: "I'm sad I lost this case. But I am sadder still that I seem to have lost a right I thought I had as an American - to speak freely and openly."

Depp was not in court to hear the jury's decision and was instead spotted at a pub in Newcastle, following a series of appearances on tour with rock legend Jeff Beck this week.

Depp had sued Heard for $50m (£38.2m) over a first-person article published in The Washington Post in December 2018, in which she referred to herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse".

Heard's column did not mention Depp by name, but he argued it was an example of "defamation by implication" because parts of the column referred to allegations of abuse she made against him following their break-up in 2016.

Heard had issued a counter-claim for $100m (£76.4m) over statements calling her allegations a "hoax" made by her ex-husband's attorney which were published in Mail Online stories in 2020.

Following the verdict, Depp's lawyers gave a brief statement outside the court in Fairfax, Virginia.

They said Heard's claims were clearly "defamatory and not supported by any evidence" and that they were "so grateful to the jury for their careful deliberations".

They added they were "truly honoured" to work with Depp on the case and that it was "now time to turn the page and look to the future".