French actor Gérard Depardieu has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in 2021. The 76-year-old was handed an 18-month suspended sentence by a Paris court, alongside a fine of €29,040 (£24,420), and will be added to France’s national sex offender register. The assaults involved a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director. Depardieu, a prominent figure in French cinema, had denied the allegations throughout the trial.
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The court heard harrowing accounts of how Depardieu groped one victim while making sexually explicit remarks and laughed as she expressed fear. The judge noted that the testimonies of two witnesses confirmed the victim’s version of events, and he criticised the actor for giving inconsistent explanations. Depardieu admitted to using vulgar language on set and grabbing the woman’s hips during a disagreement but insisted that his behaviour had not been sexual in nature.
This case marks a significant moment in France’s long-delayed reckoning with sexual violence, particularly in the film industry. Though over 20 women have made allegations against Depardieu, most complaints have not advanced due to legal time limits or lack of evidence. The conviction has been described by legal representatives as a victory not only for the two women involved but for survivors of sexual abuse across France. The victims, who have chosen to remain anonymous, sat together on the first day of the trial, which spanned four days.
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Depardieu’s legal team announced plans to appeal the verdict. Meanwhile, a separate rape allegation filed by actor Charlotte Arnould remains under investigation. Prosecutors have recommended that this case also proceed to trial. Depardieu, who has starred in more than 250 films and was Oscar-nominated for his role in Cyrano de Bergerac, now finds himself at the centre of a national debate over accountability and change within French cinema.
