French actor Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexual assault by a Paris court. The ruling was delivered this morning against the 76-year-old cinema icon.
The conviction relates to one woman who had accused him of assault, according to reports from multiple news outlets.
Depardieu has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Following the verdict, Depardieu was handed an 18-month suspended sentence.
The case centres on incidents that allegedly occurred during filming in 2021.
The alleged assaults took place during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris.
Two women came forward with accusations against the actor, claiming he groped them on set.
The first plaintiff, a set decorator, told the court that after a minor argument, Depardieu caught her between his legs and held her by the hips.
The second woman, an assistant director, alleged the actor touched her buttocks and breasts through her clothes on three separate occasions.
At his trial six weeks ago, prosecutors requested an 18-month suspended prison term for Depardieu if convicted.
They also sought a €20,000 (£16,850) fine and registration on the sex offenders’ list.
“It’s perfectly possible to be an excellent actor and a great father – and still commit a crime,” prosecutor Laurent Guy told the court in March.
He added: “You are not here to pass judgment on French cinema. You are here to judge Gérard Depardieu, just as you would any other citizen.”
The trial featured strong statements from both sides. Claude Vincent, representing one of the women, described Depardieu as a “misogynist” and a “case-study in sexism”.
Defence lawyer Jérémie Assous demanded an acquittal, criticising the plaintiffs’ legal team as “more militants than lawyers”.
“They cannot bear that there should even be a defence. They think any defence is a supplementary assault,” he told the court.
Depardieu denied the specific allegations, claiming he might have touched the women accidentally or to keep his balance.
The film Les Volets Verts portrays an ageing actor coming to terms with his declining powers, a role that contrasted sharply with Depardieu’s real-life legal troubles.
This marks the first time the actor has appeared in court on sexual assault charges, though several other women have made similar allegations in the media.
A separate alleged rape case could potentially come to trial, according to court documents.
Depardieu, one of France’s most recognisable actors internationally, has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
At the conclusion of his trial hearings, Depardieu spoke about the impact of the allegations on his reputation.
“My name has been dragged through the mud by lies and insults,” he told the court.
The actor described the trial experience as surreal.
“It’s like being in a science fiction film, except it’s not science fiction. It’s life,” he said.
The conviction marks a significant moment for the French film industry, where Depardieu has been a towering figure for decades.
