While they were married, Johnny Depp suspected his ex-wife Amber Heard was having an affair with James Franco.

On Thursday in Fairfax, Virginia, Mr Depp was cross-examined by Ms Heard’s legal team as part of his defamation trial against her. In 2019, the actor filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, alleging that she defamed him in a December 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post headlined “I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change”.

Despite the fact that the actress did not name him, he alleges that the actress’ claims have made it impossible for him to get film jobs, transforming him from “Cinderella to Quasimodo” in Hollywood.

Opposing lawyer Ben Rottenborn questioned Mr Depp if he had a heated conversation with Ms Heard, who was filming a movie with Mr Franco, over whether she was having an affair with her co-star.

Depp replied to the allegations by saying, “That’s correct.”

Heard’s lawyer then goes on to mention a plane trip on which she believes Depp was intoxicated and slept in the plane’s lavatory before feeling “quite ill” upon landing – the latter of which he doesn’t recollect but did acknowledge he thought his then-partner was being judgmental of his substance usage.

As Mr Depp was being cross-examined by Ms Heard’s legal team, audio of him groaning in pain after combining painkillers and booze was played in court.

Mr Rottenborn reviewed an email written the next day by Mr Depp to Ms Heard. Mr Rottenborn quoted the email as saying, “Once again, I find myself in a place of shame and regret.”

“Of course I am sorry, I really don’t know why or what happened, but I will never do it again,” he added. “I want to get better for you and for me – I must. My illness somehow crept up and grabbed me. I can’t do it again, I can’t live like that again, and I know you can’t either.”

Franco, 44, and Elon Musk, both of whom were rumored to have had affairs with Heard while she and Depp were still together, might be called to testify in the case.

Johnny Depp also talked about his traumatic childhood, claiming that his mother, Betty Sue Palmer, “had the ability to be as cruel as anyone can be.”

Ms. Heard has filed a $100 million counterclaim for nuisance and immunity from Mr. Depp’s charges.