by Mick the Ram

French actor Gérard Depardieu has been taken into police custody in Paris following allegations of sexual assault on two women.

The Oscar-nominated 75-year-old, who is already being investigated for rape, was summoned for questioning early Monday 29 April,  accused of molesting staff on two separate film sets in in 2014 and also in 2021.

In 2020 the Green Card actor was charged with the rape of actor Charlotte Arnould and that case remains open. A separate case was brought by actor Hélène Darras but was dropped by prosecutors for being past the statute of limitations.

Depardieu, who is a prominent figure in French and international cinema having made more than 200 films, has also been accused of sexual assault by more than a dozen women over the years.

Procedure to be met

Prosecutors in Paris said they currently could not share any information until such time that they have assessed any potential charges and directions to pursue.

They explained that the parties involved in the proceedings should be informed first of their content, in accordance with the criminal procedure, which aims to guarantee the rights of everyone involved.

Shocking accusation

The most recent of the two accusations is alleged to have taken place on the set of The Green Shutters three years ago.

Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, the lawyer of the first complainant – referred to only as Amelie – released some details of the assault saying that her client was passing through a corridor where Mr Depardieu was sitting and he “grabbed her, trapped her between his legs and touched her body up to her breasts, using crude language, leaving her feeling completely powerless, incapable of escaping his trap.”

The lawyer said evidence pointed to “sexual assault, harassment and abuse.”

Rape charge pending

Ms Durrieu-Diebolt is also representing Charlotte Arnould, the 28-year-old,who claims she was raped and sexually assaulted by Depardieu.

There is CCTV footage of the famous actor performing a sex act on Ms Arnould at his Paris mansion in August 2018, but he insists it was consensual. Ms Arnould renounced her legal right to anonymity at the end of 2021, following Depardieu being charged with rape and sexual assault.

Home assault

The second complaint involves an incident that occurred on Le Magician et les Siamois – The Magician and the Siamese – a movie released in 2015. A 24-year-old production assistant says the crew met at Depardieu’s Paris home, where she was molested, with the actor also making obscene comments.

Other claims over the years

These accusations all followed claims by another woman who said she was assaulted by Depardieu when she worked as an extra on film Disco back in 2007.

She alleges: “He is unmanageable. He looks at me as if I were a piece of meat.” She explained how she was wearing an ultra-tight dress, and he pulled her closer to him by the waist, then ran his hand over her hips and all over her bottom.

President’s controversial backing

In December 2023, the Spanish journalist and writer Ruth Baza filed a complaint in Spain against the Depardieu for rape in Paris dating back to 1995.

In the same month, French President Emmanuel Macron sparked fury by defending Depardieu. Mr Macron appeared on a TV chat show and said he detested the actor being subjected to a “manhunt”.

Denials and counter accusations

Depardieu vehemently denies all the accusations against him. He has previously denied all allegations of wrong doing and claims any relationships he has had were always consensual.

In an open letter published last year, he said: “Never, ever have I abused a woman. I am neither a rapist nor a predator.” He also accused his “enemies” of subjecting him to a “lynching” in the media.