Actor Johnny Depp has halted what promised to be acrimonious court proceedings by reportedly agreeing to pay Amber Heard $7m (£5.4m) in a divorce settlement.

Heard dropped both her divorce case and a domestic violence restraining order petition against the Pirates of the Caribbean actor, as the couple issued a statement announcing the settlement.

"Our relationship was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love," said the statement. "Neither party has made false accusations for financial gains."

There was "never an intent of physical or emotional harm," it added. "Amber wishes the best for Johnny in the future. Amber will be donating financial proceeds from the divorce to a charity."

A judge has already dismissed the domestic violence action against Depp and terminated the actor's temporary restraining order. The $7m settlement figure was reported by TMZ.

The love affair between the actors, who met on the set of The Rum Diary, went wrong quickly, according to reports. Heard, 30, filed for divorce from 53-year-old Depp in May after just 15 months of marriage. She cited irreconcilable differences and accused him of being a volatile, violent substance abuser "during the entirety of their relationship," and photos of her bruised face were quickly leaked to the media.

As Heard headed to a Los Angeles court, where she was pressing her divorce case,
a video was obtained by TMZ showing an apparently inebriated Depp smashing cupboards and drinking glasses in a threatening manner.

A photo was also released showing Depp with a sliced-off fingertip which Heard said occurred as he was smashing glass in their home in an earlier incident. Heard herself was photographed at the Los Angeles airport coming into the city with red marks on her arm and legs.

Depp's representatives had insisted that the actor was not violent and that Heard was trying to force him into a "premature" financial settlement.