Gérard Depardieu, controversial French actor accused of sexual assault

Both in France and abroad, with legendary roles such as Cyrano de Bergerac, or hilarious ones like 'My Father the Hero' (1994) with a young Katherine Heigl, Gérard Depardieu has been able to win over critics and audiences alike. Over time, however, the actor has also become a magnet of scandals.

An accusation of sexual assault is the latest chapter in the boundless life of the French superstar. Sometimes, there's only one step from glory to decadence... and Gérard Depardieu has crossed it on more than one occasion during his career.

Gérard Depardieu is known internationally for his role of Columbus in Ridley Scott's film '1492: Conquest of Paradise' (1992). He also appeared in 'The Man in the Iron Mask' (1998) and 'Life of Pi' (2011).

Previously, his performance as 'Cyrano de Bergerac' (1990) had earned him nominations for the Oscar and BAFTA, while his role in 'Green Card' (1990), next to Andie McDowell, won the French actor a Golden Globe.

A sacred monster, a legendary figure in French cinema, Depardieu's great reputation as an actor has its flipside in his more than questionable personal behavior. The recent accusations of sexual assault are only the latest chapter in a biography full of controversies.

Hateful at times, excessive, angry. Depardieu has a rather undeveloped sense of limits. Prodigal in dangerous relationships and a lover of good wine, he could pass for the typical French bon vivant. But the cliché is far from rosy: alcohol problems, multiple traffic accidents, controversial statements... and very often unacceptable behavior with women.

Among the scandalous "stunts" that made headlines are the incident where he knocked out a paparazzi in Florence in 2005. The actor has also had 17 motorbike accidents in his life. Depardieu has been arrested by police on several occasions.

One time, in 2011, Depardieu urinated in his seat during a Paris-Dublin flight. Passengers were forbidden to get up at that point in the flight, but the actor had had too much to drink and could not restrain himself - much to the chagrin of those sitting near him when they saw him relieve himself in a bottle.

Because of the life he leads, Gérard Depardieu also has major health problems, especially heart problems linked to his overweight. Considering he is a heavy smoker and drinker, one has to admit that the man has a capacity for survival.

Having been charged for the first time in 2018, the actor had managed to have the case dismissed. But now he has once again been charged with "assault" on a young actress, AFP confirmed on Tuesday 23 February 2021.

The abuse allegedly took place on two occasions, during informal rehearsals for a play. It reportedly happened at the actor's home, in one of his Parisian residences. Contradictory versions have been published about what may have been captured by security cameras (inculpatory versus exculpatory images).

Although the case was dismissed in 2018, it has been reopened last year. The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office asked an investigating judge to reopen an investigation in August 2020. This investigation led to a new accusation against the actor for the same facts. Depardieu's lawyer insisted that his client should be considered innocent. No measures were imposed against Depardieu before the reopening of the proceedings.

The actor is a legendary figure in cinema. From the film 'Les Valseuses' in 1974 to his landing in Hollywood and his work with Bertolucci, Peter Weir, Tornatore...  The César, the Best Acting award at Cannes, a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination have crowned his work.

His French colleague Catherine Deneuve said he was "a human being with shadows but an enormous actor." He has often escaped judgement for his private acts.

Many of his excesses and mistakes are related to drinking. Gérard Depardieu claimed in 2014 that he drank 14 bottles a day and said he did it "out of boredom". He owns several vineyards in France. At his château of Tigné in Maine-et-Loire, which he has owned since 1989, the actor opened his first wine estate: a business that allows him to produce, according to Dico du Vin, around 400,000 bottles a year.

Gérard Depardieu's love of drinking has been a source of trouble for him, with countless drunken appearances ending in scandal or police custody. Once, he burst onto the stage in 2004 when his daughter Julie was receiving the César for Best Actress, and he provoked an enormously violent moment in front of the audience.

In September 2010, he attacked actress Juliette Binoche in an interview with the Austrian daily Profil, to which he declared: "I would like to know why we have valued her for all these years (...) She is nothing". In the same interview, on the other hand, he praised the actress Fanny Ardant: "She is great, tremendously impressive".

In September 2010, on the set of Le Grand Journal, he said: "politics is sh**, I like Nicolas Sarkozy, he dared to do incredible things."

The actor was invited to the 36th birthday of the president of Chechnya, who'd been accused of violating human rights. And he was prepared to attend. His enthusiasm for the party and his shouting "Long live Ramzan Kadyrov" caused a backlash.

In December 2012, Gérard Depardieu renounced his French passport after the French prime minister described the actor as a "lousy" citizen because of his tax exile in Belgium. His response to Le Point in 2014: "It seems normal to me to pay, but not to idiots who think they are doing well."

And the story of Depardieu saying goodbye to France continued.  In January 2013 Depardieu met Vladimir Putin who offered him a Russian passport, a house and an administrative position in the Russian republic of Mordovia. He accepted and seemed ready to move to the remote corner of Russia where he'd been offered a home.

And there we have Gérard Depardieu in the picture, dressed in traditional costume and showing his new Russian passport to the press. Zherar Depardyo, as he is now called, got a reception with fanfare from the governor of Mordovia, much to the delight of the local press.

According to his ex-wife Elisabeth, the actor went to Russia "because he lacked attention, love. When he feels rejected, he becomes provocative." And the party went on in Russia.

Gérard Depardieu had his driving licence withdrawn by the French authorities in June 2013. In Moscow, the actor was nearly killed in a traffic accident. He was travelling in a minibus with the crew of his latest film when they were hit by a taxi.

In his book 'Monster,' published in autumn 2017, the actor reveals his vision of humanity, society, politics and cinema: "We have to let our inner monsters out, if we don't want them to devour us." On his stormy relations with France, he says in the book that he prefers "to be free rather than French." But he adds: "that doesn't mean that I renounce this country (...) I still love life and I still love France."

In 2016, questioned by an Italian journalist, he declared: "France is in danger of becoming a Disneyland for foreigners, populated by fools who make wine and stinky cheese for tourists. There is no more freedom, people are being manipulated."

Gérard Depardieu had four children. Two by his first wife Élisabeth: Julie, an actress, and Guillaume, an actor (who died in 2008). It is this part of the family that appears in the picture. Then, there are Roxane and Jean, born from two other relationships.

Gérard Depardieu has always exhibited that he "loved" women intensively, but he does so in a peculiar way. His complicated relationship with Carole Bouquet provided material for the press for ten years.

Gérard Depardieu experienced the worst moment of his life when his son died. Guillaume had chosen to be an actor and was considered by many to be the most talented of his generation. Father and son had a troubled relationship until Guillaume's devastating death at the age of 37. Following a leg amputation in 2003, the actor died of pneumonia and a staphylococcal infection. For Gérard Depardieu, the loss of the son he'd struggled to understand was a real tragedy.

The loss of Guillaume obviously had a profound effect on Gérard Depardieu. In April 2010, he insulted a journalist when she asked him a question about the death of his son.

His daughter Roxane, whom he had with writer and screenwriter Karine Silla, shows the same brutal frankness and determination as her father. In 2016, he said: "No one will tell me what to do. Never. I am a free girl."

In the midst of all these controversies, there is also the image of a loving grandfather who likes to play with his grandchildren, though. He likes to spoil them. His daughter Julie told Paris Match: "There is a lot of closeness. He takes care of his grandchildren, he cooks for them, they have fun together."

Until now his slip-ups have had no consequences other than perhaps fierce criticism. Depardieu has always managed to keep his jobs. But the #MeToo movement has changed a lot of things (especially in the world of cinema) and Gérard Depardieu may have entered a territory from which he may not escape. We'll keep you posted.