Amber Heard Shares Important Point About Hollywood

There's no denying that Amber Heard is a stunningly beautiful woman. She spent much of her early career as a model and is a major sex symbol and mainstay on Most Beautiful lists every single year. However, her passion lies with acting, and she's made major strides over the past 10 years in the industry, appearing in over 40 movies and TV shows. And while these days, she tends to occasionally stand in the shadow of her uber-famous husband, Johnny Depp, Heard is no slouch and more than holds her own in Hollywood. Sure, her beauty is worth our attention, but it's far from the most important thing about her. In a new interview with IndieWire, Heard revealed that she finds it "incredibly frustrating" to be objectified on a daily basis and wants to be known more for the roles she plays than her looks.

Of course, Heard appreciates that it can be difficult for women in Hollywood in general, and knows that her appearance likely gave her the initial "in" she needed to get started. However, the 29-year-old also knows it's a double-edged sword: while casting directors want conventionally attractive actresses in their films, her physicality can often overshadow her talent and dedication to the craft of acting, and it's something she battles to overcome regularly.

Here are 7 reasons Amber Heard is WAY more than just a pretty face.

She's not afraid to be herself

Back at the 2010 GLAAD Awards, Heard came out as bisexual — a brave move in an industry that still has its prejudices against those who are different. So why'd she decide to share it? "I didn't want to look like I was hiding anything," she told Elle in 2013. "I'm not, and wasn't ever, ashamed."

She puts her fame to good use

Fame is great in a lot of ways, but the best celebrities are the ones that use their platform to give back to those in need. Heard does just that — she supports charities like Amnesty International, GLAAD, Habitat For Humanity, The Trevor Project and more, making her a shining example of what good can come from star status.

She's a total badass

Frankly, I'm not a big fan of guns and think we need far more regulation where they're concerned to stop the violence and unnecessary deaths they cause every single day. However, firearms can be handled responsibly, and Heard knows how to respect the weapons in the way that they deserve. Having grown up around guns in Texas, her father taught her how to shoot and she knows her way around a .357 Magnum. Oh yeah, and she likes motorcycles, too!

She's incredibly smart

Heard is a big reader and has named Ayn Rand as her favorite author. Being well-read is a major sign of intelligence, and her love of books, combined with how well-spoken and articulate she's always been in interviews, points to the obvious: Heard is one smart cookie. Oh, and she's bilingual, too (she speaks Spanish fluently).

She's a great step-mom

When Heard got with Johnny Depp, she easily and happily took on the role of step-mom to his two kids, Lily and Jack, from his previous relationship with Vanessa Paradis. While this would be intimidating for anyone, keep in mind that Heard was only 26 when she took on her new role, and she seems to be doing a pretty good job.

She's got serious guts

Not content to stand on the sidelines, Heard is incredibly outspoken on the subjects she's passionate about. In particular, casting off her sex symbol status and putting attention on bigger issues like feminism and gender equality in Hollywood. "I try to find ways to make my characters stronger, independent," she told IndieWire. "I've always chosen strong women, smart women, I've always chosen to protect myself as best I can, but the really f***ed up thing is that nobody has any incentive in this industry to invest in something other than what can be seen in you or what's the easiest thing to do.

She's got a great sense of style

I don't mean style in its most obvious sense. Sure, being famous gets you access to the trendiest clothes by the biggest designers, and Heard wears and looks amazing in all of them. But what makes her so fashionable is not what she's wearing, but how she wears it. Her self-confidence shines through, and that's what's best of all.

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