Huge Hollywood actor found guilty of sexual assault on 2021 film set

Gerard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women on a 2021 film set by a French court on Tuesday (May 13). The French actor, 76, who had roles in more than 200 films across his career, was convicted by the Paris Correctional Court of groping two women while filming Les Volet Verts in 2021. His victims had behind-the-scenes roles on the film sets.

Both victims, a 34-year-old assistant producer referred to at the time as Sarah and Amélie, 54, a set designer, were scared to speak out about the assault at the time and confessed they were intimidated by the actor. Amélie told the court: "I was petrified" as she recalled the actor trapped her between his legs when she was trying to pass him in a corridor. She then told the court how he ran his hands over her body, as she admitted: "He terrified me - he looked like a madman".

The woman alleged the star first used vulgar and explicit language towards them to abuse them before sexually assaulting them by grabbing them and running his hands over their bodies.

The court heard how he made crude and sexual advances towards the women. Barrister Carine Durrieu Diebolt, who represented the set designer, said Amélie was typical of victims who were "afraid to speak out". Ms Durrieu Diebolt said: "These women are all technicians doing minor jobs in the film industry.

"There's a risk of reprisals. They are afraid of speaking, of being blacklisted, of being viewed as troublemakers in the workplace." The actor - who wasn't present as the verdict was being read out - claimed he didn't know what sexual assault was.

Depardieu had denied the allegation made against him and previously received support from the likes of French President Emmanuel Macron. He was previously described as a "sex attacker" who "preys on the weak" by a female lawyer at his trial when he denied the charges against him.

It comes after French veteran film star Fanny Ardant spoke out in his defence. Barrister Durrieu Diebolt said: "He didn't grope Fanny Ardant. He wouldn't have done that to Fanny Ardant. Mr Depardieu is strong with the weak and weak with the strong."

Depardieu is believed to be filming with Ardant in Portugal today as his court hearing concludes. Durrieu Diebolt called the case a 'French Me Too', and said other women would have pressed charges against the controversial actor if it hadn't been for the French statute of limitations, which prevents cases dating back more than a decade from being prosecuted.

She declared: "If not for that, there would have been 20 women instead of two in court. Perhaps you consider that he's a great actor and you like his films, and you don't see him as a sexual attacker, but he is also a man of wealth."

He has previously been accused publicly or via formal complaints of misconduct by more than 20 women, but no other case has gone to court. Some were dropped due to a lack of evidence. As part of a separate case, the actor has been - since December 16, 2020 - indicted over allegations of rape and sexual assault filed in 2018.

Depardieu was also accused by 13 women of sexually inappropriate behaviour in a report published by French investigative news website Médiapart in April 2023.