Depardieu denies rape

Gerard Depardieu has been accused of raping a young woman at his Paris mansion. The French dancer, 22, has alleged the film star sexually assaulted her twice. Depardieu’s lawyer, Herve Temime, said his client “absolutely” denied any accusation of rape.

GERARD Depardieu has been accused of raping a young woman at his Paris mansion. The French dancer, 22, has alleged that the film star sexually assaulted her twice.

She claimed the abuse took place when she visited the 69year-old’s sprawling home in the 6th arrondissement of Paris on August 7 and 13. Depardieu strenuously denied the allegations.

His accuser made her statement to police in Lambesc, southern France, and the case was passed to prosecutors in the French capital.

The unnamed woman is a dancer and comedienne who knew the star before the alleged offences took place.

Depardieu’s lawyer, Herve Temime, said his client “absolutely” denied any accusation of rape.

“I had a long meeting with Gerard Depardieu (left) and I am absolutely convinced his innocence will be established,” Mr Temime told France Info radio.

As well as appearing in more than 150 films in the US and Europe, Depardieu is a Paris restaurateur and owns a vineyard in Burgundy.

He gained international recognition in 1990 after starring in the US comedy Green Card, for which he won a Golden Globe, and went on to appear in Kenneth Brannagh’s 1996 version of Hamlet.