Acclaimed French actor Gérard Depardieu has been convicted of sexually assaulting two women on the set of the 2021 film Les Volets Verts. A Paris court handed the 76-year-old an 18-month suspended prison sentence.
The victims, both crew members, described being groped and intimidated by the actor. One woman, set designer Amélie, told the court she was “petrified” during the assault, saying Depardieu trapped and touched her in a corridor.
Depardieu denied the allegations and will appeal. However, Judge Thierry Donard said his testimony was inconsistent and unconvincing.
Lawyer Carine Diebolt, representing Amélie, said the actor targeted women without status, claiming the film industry had long protected him due to his fame. Around 20 other women have since come forward with similar accusations.
Depardieu also faces an upcoming trial for allegedly raping actress Charlotte Arnould, charges he denies. His conviction is being viewed as a significant step for France’s #MeToo movement, challenging decades of silence in the country’s film industry.
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