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French Film Star Gérard Depardieu Accused Of Raping 22-Year-Old Actress Twice
The award-winning actor's accuser says he'd been giving her professional advice at his home before the alleged assaults.
French actor Gérard Depardieu has been accused of sexually assaulting a young woman, multiple outlets reported on Thursday.
Depardieu’s accuser, a 22-year-old actress and dancer, filed a criminal complaint on Monday alleging that Depardieu, 69, had raped her on two separate occasions, BNO News reports, citing French news outlet Le Parisien.
The identity of Depardieu’s accuser has not been released.
The woman contends that Depardieu, who was reportedly giving her professional advice, sexually assaulted her at his home in Paris on August 7 and August 13, according to BNO News. French prosecutors reportedly launched a preliminary investigation into the alleged rape and sexual assault on Thursday.
Depardieu’s victim has not commented publicly on the allegations. Depardieu’s lawyer, Herve Termime, spoke on behalf of the actor on Thursday, arguing that his client “absolutely denies any attack, any rape.”
“I regret the public nature of this process which poses a major prejudice to Gérard Depardieu, whose innocence I am convinced will be recognized,” Termime told Agence France Presse.
Termime also told France Info that he’d “had a long meeting with Gérard Depardieu” and is “absolutely convinced his innocence will be established,” BBC News reported.
Depardieu, a renowned character actor, has more than 200 film credits to his name, according to his IMDB page. Depardieu has received numerous awards over his decades-long career, including trophies from France’s César Awards, and a Best Actor Golden Globe for his work in the 1990 film “Green Card.”
[Photo: Gerard Depardieu attends “Le Divan de Staline” Paris Premiere at Cite Cine des Halles on January 10, 2017 in Paris, France. By Foc Kan/WireImage via Getty Images]
