Johnny Depp splits from Vanessa Paradis

A spokesman for the actor said: Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis have amicably separated.

The break-up after 14 years comes following the Pirates of the Caribbean actor Depp, 49, being linked with The Rum Diary co-star Amber Heard, 26, in April.

Sources said problems set in between American heart-throb Depp and French singer and actress Vanessa after they moved with their two children Lily-Rose, 13, and Jack, ten, from the south of France to Los Angeles.

An insider said last night: Its so sad. Johnny and Vanessa gambled that they could move to California and be on long stays on film locations for his career.

They bet that things would continue there as they had in the south of France. They lost that bet.

She went seven years between albums and films, while he became Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates films.

In January it emerged that Depp and Vanessa were living separate lives, staying in different hotels while in the same city. There were rumours that the relationship was in tatters.

A-list love ... at LA premiere of Depp's Sleepy Hollow in 1999, the year after they met

They denied any rift, but have not been seen together since and have not attended a red carpet bash jointly in over a year.

Vanessa, 39, who enjoyed a UK chart hit with Joe le taxi in 1987, even skipped the lavish tenth birthday party Depp threw for Jack in LA in April.

Just last month, Depp repeated his denials of a love split while he was in London.

He said: The rumours are not true. They are absolutely not true. No matter what I say, people believe the opposite. I cant say enough about it not being over.

Amber was reported to have joined Depp in Las Vegas earlier this year as he plugged his new film Dark Shadows and was pictured boarding his private jet.

Last picture ... couple walk son Jack to his school in Los Angeles last November

NATIONAL PHOTO GROUP

Sparks of passion are said to have flown between Johnny and bisexual Amber when they filmed The Rum Diary in Puerto Rico in 2009. She is said to have danced for him seductively on the set of the movie, which is based on a Hunter S Thompson book.

Amber has said of her co-star: Hes a wonderful artist and such a talented person. Hes charming.

The actress who came out with lesbian lover Tasya van Ree in 2010 has also said: When it comes to love, Im totally open.

Depp and Paradis met in Paris in 1998 when he saw the French star sitting at the bar of the Costes Hotel and invited her to join him at his table, where they spoke for hours. They soon set up home in Le Plan-de-la-Tour, a village in the south of France.

But as Depps profile rose and they were forced to spend more time in Hollywood, tensions developed in their relationship.

'Sparks' ... at a bash with The Rum Diary co-star Amber Heard

WENN.com

Depp established himself as one of Hollywoods most bankable stars with the success of 2003s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. He is now thought to be worth a staggering 200million.

But Vanessa appeared to put her singing and acting career on the backburner to look after their children. Depp recently admitted he missed family life in France, saying the country gave him a marvellous family and also an equilibrium which I missed enormously.

In 2010, Vanessa said of her man: I could make an endless list of all the things I admire about him.

We understand that, if we want our relationship to continue, we must give each other space and trust each other.

In another intervie! w, she e xplained why the pair never felt the need to marry. She said: I love the romance of Lets get married. But then, when you have it so perfect... I mean Im more married than anybody can be we have two kids. Maybe one day but its something I can really do without.

Ship-shape ... filming Pirates Of The Caribbean in Bahamas

KORPA - JASON FRASER

But the tone changed in a recent interview in which she fuelled talk of a split: I have a problem with the term soulmates. It scares me.

Its such a strong statement its like a marriage contract. I believe in love and I want to believe it lasts forever. But you have to take things a day at a time and never know what comes next. All you can do is hope and love and live.

Vanessa has cut a forlorn figure since rumours surfaced their romance was on the rocks.

Before meeting her, Depp was engaged to actress Winona Ryder and romanced supermodel Kate Moss. Vanessa dated US rocker Lenny Kravitz.

The couple will now have to split their assets including homes in LA, Paris and the Bahamas and custody of their children.

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By GORDON SMART, Showbiz Editor

JOE le taxi for Vanessa Paradis.

Finally, after months of tap dancing around the difficult questions about their long-term relationship, the truth is out.

It has been common knowledge for a while that Johnny Depp and Vanessa have been living separate lives.

It was almost taken as gospel until last month when Johnny denied they had split up on the red carpet of his latest Tim Burton film.

But lets face it, neither of them are going to struggle to find love again.

In fact, it will be a full-time job knocking all the offers they get back from now on.

They have done a great job as parents keeping their private life exactly that, hiding away in the s! outh of France.

But earlier this year it became clear Johnny was doing his own thing.

After the Grammys he hosted a party for a group of his pals including Foo Fighter Dave Grohl and Sir Paul McCartney in the Hollywood Hills.

Hes had the house completely renovated to move in permanently as he returns from Vanessas European homeland for the first time in over a decade.

He has built a big studio to throw himself into his record label and his love of rock n roll.

I just wonder if the floodgates will now open.

Johnny has been, and always will be, good at enjoying himself.

I predict he might just be hitting the headlines a bit more often now.

But one thing is for sure the loving parents will put their kids first whatever happens from here on in.

p.samson@the-sun.co.uk