Johnny Depp Locks Down Former Maxim Cover Girl Amber Heard

Looking at these photos from her incredible 2008 cover shoot, we can’t blame him.

Over the weekend, many folks were surprised to hear the news that 50-year-old Johnny Depp – who ended his 14-year-long relationship with Vanessa Paradis in 2012 – has popped the question to his much younger girlfriend and Rum Diaries co-star Amber Heard. Well, not us. We’ve been singing Heard’s praises ever since she appeared on our August 2008 cover to promote her breakout role in the stoner comedy Pineapple Express.

So, what did we learn about the then-22-year-old knockout?

She’s pretty cool with pot: “If everybody smoked pot, we’d wind up with a bunch of overeating, creative people who are cool with everything.”

She carries a gun: “I have a .357 magnum and a .38 special. My dad said anything less would just piss someone off.”

She planned to sleep with as many people as possible before being tied down – really: “I plan to sleep with as many guys as possible before getting tied down.”

Well, let’s toast to the happy couple the best way we know how: by taking a look back at those sizzling photos, along with this video from her Maxim shoot!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1783580181001?bckey=AQ~~,AAABnwxt8sE~,TdyFq09iMr7kioKT_wX2C8w8xLyk5_f2&bctid=1853948461001

Photos by James White | Licensed to Alpha Media Group 2014