Johnny Depp 'marries' Amber Heard: Is the Pirates of the Caribbean actor having a reverse mid-life crisis?

After the tabloids reported Depp and Heard had married, a psychologist says it could be a sign of a midlife crisis

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have been engaged since early 2014 (Rex Features)

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are rumoured to have already married/are gearing up to get married this weekend, depending on who you believe, or whether you care.

Either way, the tabloid media are excited about the nuptials of the 51-year-old Mortdecai actor and his 28-year-old Rum Diary co-star Heard.

Depp separated from partner of 14 years Vanessa Paradis a year ago. They did not marry and have two children together.

But does Depp getting married to someone so much younger than himself at a sticky time in his career suggest that he's keen to settle down?

Psychologist Anjula Mutanda, author of How To Do Relationships, says that it could indicate Depp trying to relive past glory.

"A mid-life crisis sees the sufferer resetting his psychological clock back to a time where he was successful, and reliving those feelings in the hope that he’ll feel younger again," says Mutanda.

"During a life crisis, there's the feeling of the potential for maybe starting again. Whether it's do to with romance, children, career, it's a way of pressing the refresh button," she adds.

Mid-life crises are a case of trying out new personas, Mutanda says, but Depp's behaviour could be a "reverse crisis" as he wants to settle down.

"If you look at someone like Depp, a serial monogamist who has had many long-term partners, you can see a need to settle down and feel secure. It indicates a need to always be in love."

Instead of a regular mid-life crisis, Depp's looking for lasting love. "Serial monogamists get very insecure when they sense a relationship coming to an end. There's a discomfort in one’s own company, they don’t like being alone for any amount of time," Mutanda adds.

"It is a time of crisis – but also opportunity to try new things and find new happiness."

Depp has spoken about his flagging career, saying he didn't "give a f**k" about "the clock ticking".

"As Marlon [Brando] once so beautiful f**king said to me, ‘Life is a birdsong’. That’s stuck with me," he told Details magazine. "For everybody, the clock’s ticking. The main thing is whether you sit there and stare at the clock in fear of your ultimate demise – which is pointless – or you just live."

He added: "Suddenly you care enough to not give a f**k because not giving a f**k, that’s the total liberation. Being game to try anything."