Johnny Depp's former partner Vanessa Paradis has reportedly written a letter in his defence, saying allegations of abuse by his estranged wife Amber Heard are outrageous, .

Heard, 30, filed for divorce last week, citing irreconcilable differences and accusing Depp, 52, of domestic violence.

But Paradis, 43, who was Depp's partner from 1998 to 2012 and who is the mother of his children, Lily-Rose, 17, and Jack, 14, said that he is "sensitive" and "loving", celebrity gossip website TMZ reported.

"Johnny Depp is the father of my two children, he is a sensitive, loving and loved person, and I believe with all my heart that these recent allegations being made are outrageous," the letter said.

"In all the years I have known Johnny, he has never been physically abusive with me and this looks nothing like the man I lived with for 14 wonderful years."

The website also claims that Depp's first wife, Lori Anne Allison who was married to the star for two years, has defended him, saying he had never hurt her and was a "soft person".

Lily-Rose has also spoken out in her father's defence.

"My dad is the sweetest most loving person I know, he's been nothing but a wonderful father to my little brother and I, and everyone who knows him would say the same," she wrote on Instagram.

Last week, Heard filed for a restraining order against Depp in a Los Angeles court.

"Johnny has a long-held and widely acknowledged public and private history of drug and alcohol abuse. He has a short fuse," she wrote in a sworn declaration.

"He is often paranoid and his temper is exceptionally scary for me as it has proven many times to be physically dangerous and/or life threatening to me.

"I live in fear Johnny will return to the Broadway residence unannounced to terrorise me, physically and emotionally."

She added that, on one occasion in December, she thought Depp might kill her.

"There also have been several prior incidents of domestic violence," Heard wrote, "in particular one severe incident when I truly feared that my life was in danger."

She also claimed that Depp threw her mobile phone at her during a fight recently, striking her cheek and eye.

She submitted a picture of her bruised face.

On Friday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carl H. Moor ordered that Depp stay 100 yards (91 metres) away from Heard and allowed her to remain living in the family home.

Depp and Heard met while co-starring in the 2011 film The Rum Diary. They have no children together.

Depp, who starred in Pirates of the Caribbean, is promoting his new film, Alice Through the Looking Glass.

Fairfax Media