Gerard Depardieu acknowledges 'vulgar Russian nature' but denies sexual assault in trial

Gerard Depardieu testified that he has been told he has "a Russian nature" for his drinking, during his sexual assault trial.

On the second day of the trial in a Paris court, the French actor denied any wrongdoing but said his behaviour was regarded by some as boorish.

Depardieu said: "I've always been told I have a Russian nature, I don't know if it's because of the drinking or the vulgarity.

"I'm not touching the butts of women."

Read more: Why is Gerard Depardieu on trial

The 76-year-old is accused of sexually assaulting two female crew members on the set of the film Les Volets Verts (Green Shutters) in 2021.

The anonymous women both claim the actor forced himself on them on multiple occasions, touching them over their clothes, according to court documents.

'A madman'

One woman told the court Depardieu behaved "like a madman" who took "pleasure in frightening me".

She described the alleged assault in detail, including claiming he groped her chest.

The court heard she said: "That's when I had a reflex of 'my God'. I tried to free myself, I tried to take his hands away, I couldn't do it.

"He terrified me, he laughed, he looked like a madman."

"It was very brief, there was no shouting," she said, adding she had been too scared to speak out and that he was too strong for her to break free.

She alleged someone came and removed Depardieu's hands from her.

"I saw in his eyes a pleasure in frightening me, that's what I felt, it's savagery. He terrified me, and that amused him," she said.

She went on to add that Depardieu's calm and co-operative attitude in court was worlds away from his behaviour on set.

"Here, he's exemplary, he doesn't move, he's quiet, he doesn't make any noise," she said. "He's not like that on the film set: he gesticulates, he grunts, he makes remarks to women."

The second woman is yet to testify.

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Depardieu faces five years in prison if convicted

Speaking in court on Tuesday, Depardieu acknowledged he used crude and heated language around one of the women who accused him of sexual assault, as well as grabbing her hips.

"I understand perfectly if she's a bit upset," he said. "I am capable of trash talk... I don't have to talk like that, get angry like that, voila."

He also claimed that he had been in a "bad mood" because the set was hot, which was difficult for him, being overweight.

Depardieu said grabbing the woman's hips was not ill-intentioned and added: "She didn't answer as if I was assaulting her."

He has starred in more than 200 films over five decades, winning two best lead actor awards at the Cesars, and being nominated for an Oscar and 15 other Cesars.

He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 (£62,000) if convicted.

The verdict is not expected immediately after the trial.

(c) Sky News 2025: Gerard Depardieu acknowledges 'vulgar Russian nature' but denies sexual assault in trial