The Rum Diary co-stars are said to be so close that bisexual actress Heard, 26, has been a 'regular visitor' to the New Mexico set of The Lone Ranger which 49-year-old Depp is currently filming.

And Depp, who made an official announcement that he had split from partner of 14 years Vanessa Paradis on Tuesday, is even said to have bought Heard a horse so they can ride together, according to a report in Globe.

A source claims Depp is smitten by the Hitchcock blonde, and reportedly said: 'When I first saw Amber, it was like seeing an old-time movie star like Lauren Bacall.'

The American actress who was born in Austin, Texas, previously worked as a model. Before starring in The Rum Diary alongside Depp she had small roles in a number of films.

She attended a Catholic school in Austin until her junior year, then left to pursue a career in Hollywood.

Heard was active in her school's drama department and appeared in local commercials and campaigns.

While she was raised a Catholic, after the death of her best friend in a car crash Heard declared herself an atheist.

Heard described her role as Depp's love interest in The Rum Diary, as 'the best experience of my life.'

She gushed to magazine Dazed about Depp: 'He’s such a wonderful presence; he is enigmatic and compelling and a true artist, seriously intelligent and incredib.