Latest news with #Châteauroux
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Who is Gérard Depardieu? The rise and fall of disgraced French actor convicted of sexual assault
French acting legend Gerard Depardieu has rarely strayed far from controversy but his career and reputation now lie in ruins. The disgraced 76-year-old has been found guilty of sexually assaulting two women, in the most high-profile MeToo trial France has seen to date. He denied the allegations against him, but it is not the first time he has been accused of wrongdoing. Below we look at the turbulent career of one of France's most celebrated performers who met the Pope, dined with Princess Diana and has called Fidel Castro and Vladimir Putin a close friend. Who is Gerard Depardieu? Born the third of six children in a working-class neighbourhood in Châteauroux, France in 1948, Depardieu began life as a street hustler, trading stolen cigarettes and alcohol to American GIs to help his large family make ends meet. His father, Dédé, was an illiterate, alcohol-dependent sheet metal worker; his mother, Lilette, so crushed by poverty, once told him that she considered aborting young Gerard with a knitting needle. In his autobiography Ça s'est fait comme ça ('That's the Way it Was), he recounted robbing the graves of newly buried bodies, getting into fights and prostituting himself to passing lorry drivers. He spent three months in prison after stealing a car. School holidays were spent in the public toilets of Orly airport outside Paris, where his grandmother was an attendant. His early mystique was enhanced by the fact that he ran away from home at the age of 13 and took drama lessons at the behest of a psychologist who urged him to act out his traumas. Since then, Depardieu has won fame and fortune acting in more than 250 films since 1967. As a child, his nickname was Petarou – the little firecracker. As an adult, he was referred to by the late Marguerite Duras, who directed him in two films, as "a big, beautiful runaway truck of a man". In 1970, Depardieu married Élisabeth Guignot, with whom he had two children: actor Guillaume, who died from complications of drug addiction and a motorbike accident, and actress Julie. In 1992, after divorcing Guignot, he had a daughter, Roxane, with the model Karine Silla. From Obelix to Stalin - how Depardieu became the darling of French cinema Internationally, Depardieu is a huge cinematic figure– a Golden Globe winner and an Oscar nominee. Among his 250 film credits are lead roles as varied as dictator Joseph Stalin, a priest, a hunchbacked peasant, fictitious medieval warrior Obelix, a car salesman, a sculptor and a gangster. Depardieu has worked with revolutionary new-wave filmmakers such as François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, Marguerite Duras, Jean-Luc Godard and Claude Chabrol. His performance as the ungainly, big-nosed soldier with the romantic soul in Cyrano de Bergerac was praised by critics, winning the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival. And in Abel Ferrara's 2014 feature Welcome to New York he starred as a powerful politician accused of raping a maid in a New York hotel. Sex assault allegations and trial On Tuesday Depardieu was found guilty of trapping a woman he worked with with his legs before groping her in front of witnesses. In an interview with Mediapart, the 54-year-old set dresser said Depardieu made lewd comments, grabbed her forcefully, and had to be pulled away by bodyguards. A second woman, a 34-year-old assistant director, alleged she was groped both on set and in the street. The court sided with both women. The actor has been handed an 18-month suspended sentence, in line with the prosecution's requests, and could face a €75,000 (£62,000) fine. He will also be put on the sex offender register. Depardieu has denied all the allegations and will be appealing the decision. The verdict was welcomed by respresentatives of the victims. "It is the victory of two women, but it is the victory of all the women beyond this trial," said Carine Durrieu-Diebolt, the set dresser's lawyer. "Today we hope to see the end of impunity for an artist in the world of cinema. I think that with this decision we can no longer say that he is not a sexual abuser. And today, as the Cannes Film Festival opens, I'd like the film world to spare a thought for Depardieu's victims." What other controversies has Depardieu been embroiled in? The actor was reportedly blacklisted in Hollywood after being quoted by Time magazine in 1991 as saying he participated in his first rape at the age of nine and joined in other sexual attacks later because in his world "it was absolutely normal." Depardieu has denied making the comment, saying that he has too much respect for women to have ever assaulted them sexually. The actor, who was making a film on the island of Mauritius at the time the quotes surfaced issued a statement that said, "Of course, one can say I had sexual experiences at a very young age, but never rape. ... I am profoundly wounded by what has happened.' Depardieu subsequently accused Time of mistranslating the quote, insisting that he had admitted only to having witnessed rapes. "I have always been treated honestly and justly by the American press," Depardieu said later, expressing bewilderment over the charges. "I have a wife and children. I am not going to let myself be treated as a rapist." Anecdotes about Depardieu's marathon drinking bouts became infamous, and he confessed to drinking 14 bottles of wine a day. In 1998, Depardieu survived a high-speed motorbike crash when he was five times over the limit on the way to the shooting of Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar. No charges were filed against the 49-year-old actor, who underwent surgery to repair damage to his knee, which delayed the $45 million production. Parisian prosecutors dismissed a complaint by actor Hélène Darras, who claimed that he had groped and propositioned her on the set of the 2007 film Disco. The case was abandoned after exceeding the statute of limitations; a dozen other women also lodged allegations against the actor last year. Depardieu, then 75, denied any wrongdoing, and he has not been convicted in connection with any of the accusations against him. The actor was kicked off a flight to Dublin for urinating publicly in 2011. Depardieu apologised and fellow actor Edouard Baer attributed it to prostate issues. In 2014, there was another media storm after he cosied up to Vladimir Putin, who signed an executive order granting him Russian citizenship. He claims to have hit it off with Putin because 'we could both have ended up as hoodlums.' Mr Putin was apparently attracted to 'the fact that I had occasionally been picked up off the pavement dead drunk.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A timeline of the rise and fall of French movie star Gérard Depardieu
For over half a century, Gérard Depardieu stood as a towering figure in French cinema, a titan known for his commanding physical presence, instinct, sensibility and remarkable versatility. A bon vivant who overcame a speech impediment and a turbulent youth, Depardieu rose to prominence in the 1970s and became one of France's most prolific and acclaimed actors, portraying a vast array of characters, from volatile outsiders to deeply introspective figures. In recent years, however, Depardieu's illustrious career has been overshadowed by multiple allegations of misconduct. He has been accused publicly or in formal complaints by more than 20 women, but so far only a sexual assault case has proceeded to court. Some others were dropped because of a lack of evidence or the statute of limitations. In March, the Paris public prosecutor requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence over accusations that he sexually assaulted two women on a film set. A decision is expected on Tuesday. Here is a timeline of key moments in Depardieu's rise and fall: Dec. 27, 1948: Born in Châteauroux, in a modest family of six children. His youth is tumultuous. Depardieu lives close to an American military base and rubs shoulders with small-time hoodlums, smuggling all kinds of goods. 1960s: Depardieu arrives in Paris. He takes acting classes and discovers all the great classics of literature while undergoing therapy to correct his speech difficulties. 1967: Depardieu makes his screen debut in the short film 'Le Beatnik et le Minet' and appears in his first stage play. 1972: Features in 'Nathalie Granger,' directed by Marguerite Duras. 1974: First big hit in France with 'Les Valseuses,' ('Going Places'), Bertrand Blier's classic farce about two wandering thugs. 1980s: Depardieu becomes the most sought-after French actor. Maurice Pialat casts him in 'Loulou,' the highly acclaimed 'Police,' for which he won an acting prize at the 1985 Venice Film Festival, and 'Under Satan's Sun,' a provocative tale about a monk's encounter with the devil which won Cannes' Palme d'Or in 1987. Depardieu stars in many hits: 'The Woman Next Door,' 'Jean de Florette,' 'The Last Metro,' 'Danton," 'The Return of Martin Guerre.″ 1991: Depardieu receives a nomination for the best actor Oscar for his performance in 'Cyrano de Bergerac.' But controversy ensues after Time magazine carries an affirmation by Depardieu that he took part in a rape as a 9-year-old. The movie suffers a bloody nose at the Oscars. Depardieu categorically denies saying he took part in rape. 'It's outrageous at 9 years old or at any age,' he told the French newspaper Le Monde. 'Yes, one can say I had sexual experiences when I was very young, but a rape, never. I respect women too much.' 1990s: Depardieu's career is unaffected in France. He stars in Jean-Luc Godard's 'Hélas pour moi.' Meanwhile, Depardieu reinforces his popularity with mass audiences with the Astérix & Obélix film series. 1998: Depardieu crashes his motorcycle. His blood-alcohol limit is five times the legal level. He escapes with leg and face injuries. The incident was one of several encounters with the law for Depardieu, who also grabbed headlines when he urinated in the aisle of a plane before takeoff on a Paris to Dublin flight, and when he was detained for allegedly driving drunk on his scooter. 1999: Depardieu returns to the French stage for the first time in 13 years as a guilt-ravaged emperor in a murder-mystery. 2000: Depardieu undergoes successful coronary bypass surgery. Oct. 13, 2008: Death of his son Guillaume Depardieu. 2013: After sparring with his native country over taxes, Depardieu is granted Russian citizenship by Vladimir Putin. 2014: Depardieu plays the leading role in 'Welcome to New York,' the film inspired by the life of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former director of the International Monetary Fund who was accused in 2011 of sexually assaulting a hotel maid. 2018: Prosecutors in Paris open a preliminary investigation after actor Charlotte Arnould accused Depardieu of raping her at his home. That case is still active, and in August 2024 prosecutors requested that it go to trial. 2023: His wax figure is removed from Paris' most famous wax museum following negative reactions from visitors over allegations about his conduct with women. The decision to remove the figure from the Grevin Museum followed a TV documentary showing him repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures during a 2018 trip to North Korea. 2025: Depardieu goes on trial in Paris on charges of sexually assaulting two women on a movie set. He is accused of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during filming in 2021 of 'Les Volets Verts.'
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
A timeline of the rise and fall of French movie star Gérard Depardieu
For over half a century, Gérard Depardieu stood as a towering figure in French cinema, a titan known for his commanding physical presence, instinct, sensibility and remarkable versatility. A bon vivant who overcame a speech impediment and a turbulent youth, Depardieu rose to prominence in the 1970s and became one of France's most prolific and acclaimed actors, portraying a vast array of characters, from volatile outsiders to deeply introspective figures. In recent years, however, Depardieu's illustrious career has been overshadowed by multiple allegations of misconduct. He has been accused publicly or in formal complaints by more than 20 women, but so far only a sexual assault case has proceeded to court. Some others were dropped because of a lack of evidence or the statute of limitations. In March, the Paris public prosecutor requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence over accusations that he sexually assaulted two women on a film set. A decision is expected on Tuesday. Here is a timeline of key moments in Depardieu's rise and fall: Dec. 27, 1948: Born in Châteauroux, in a modest family of six children. His youth is tumultuous. Depardieu lives close to an American military base and rubs shoulders with small-time hoodlums, smuggling all kinds of goods. 1960s: Depardieu arrives in Paris. He takes acting classes and discovers all the great classics of literature while undergoing therapy to correct his speech difficulties. 1967: Depardieu makes his screen debut in the short film 'Le Beatnik et le Minet' and appears in his first stage play. 1972: Features in 'Nathalie Granger,' directed by Marguerite Duras. 1974: First big hit in France with 'Les Valseuses,' ('Going Places'), Bertrand Blier's classic farce about two wandering thugs. 1980s: Depardieu becomes the most sought-after French actor. Maurice Pialat casts him in 'Loulou,' the highly acclaimed 'Police,' for which he won an acting prize at the 1985 Venice Film Festival, and 'Under Satan's Sun,' a provocative tale about a monk's encounter with the devil which won Cannes' Palme d'Or in 1987. Depardieu stars in many hits: 'The Woman Next Door,' 'Jean de Florette,' 'The Last Metro,' 'Danton," 'The Return of Martin Guerre.″ 1991: Depardieu receives a nomination for the best actor Oscar for his performance in 'Cyrano de Bergerac.' But controversy ensues after Time magazine carries an affirmation by Depardieu that he took part in a rape as a 9-year-old. The movie suffers a bloody nose at the Oscars. Depardieu categorically denies saying he took part in rape. 'It's outrageous at 9 years old or at any age,' he told the French newspaper Le Monde. 'Yes, one can say I had sexual experiences when I was very young, but a rape, never. I respect women too much.' 1990s: Depardieu's career is unaffected in France. He stars in Jean-Luc Godard's 'Hélas pour moi.' Meanwhile, Depardieu reinforces his popularity with mass audiences with the Astérix & Obélix film series. 1998: Depardieu crashes his motorcycle. His blood-alcohol limit is five times the legal level. He escapes with leg and face injuries. The incident was one of several encounters with the law for Depardieu, who also grabbed headlines when he urinated in the aisle of a plane before takeoff on a Paris to Dublin flight, and when he was detained for allegedly driving drunk on his scooter. 1999: Depardieu returns to the French stage for the first time in 13 years as a guilt-ravaged emperor in a murder-mystery. 2000: Depardieu undergoes successful coronary bypass surgery. Oct. 13, 2008: Death of his son Guillaume Depardieu. 2013: After sparring with his native country over taxes, Depardieu is granted Russian citizenship by Vladimir Putin. 2014: Depardieu plays the leading role in 'Welcome to New York,' the film inspired by the life of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former director of the International Monetary Fund who was accused in 2011 of sexually assaulting a hotel maid. 2018: Prosecutors in Paris open a preliminary investigation after actor Charlotte Arnould accused Depardieu of raping her at his home. That case is still active, and in August 2024 prosecutors requested that it go to trial. 2023: His wax figure is removed from Paris' most famous wax museum following negative reactions from visitors over allegations about his conduct with women. The decision to remove the figure from the Grevin Museum followed a TV documentary showing him repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures during a 2018 trip to North Korea. 2025: Depardieu goes on trial in Paris on charges of sexually assaulting two women on a movie set. He is accused of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during filming in 2021 of 'Les Volets Verts.'
Associated Press
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
A timeline of the rise and fall of French movie star Gérard Depardieu
For over half a century, Gérard Depardieu stood as a towering figure in French cinema, a titan known for his commanding physical presence, instinct, sensibility and remarkable versatility. A bon vivant who overcame a speech impediment and a turbulent youth, Depardieu rose to prominence in the 1970s and became one of France's most prolific and acclaimed actors, portraying a vast array of characters, from volatile outsiders to deeply introspective figures. In recent years, however, Depardieu's illustrious career has been overshadowed by multiple allegations of misconduct. He has been accused publicly or in formal complaints by more than 20 women, but so far only a sexual assault case has proceeded to court. Some others were dropped because of a lack of evidence or the statute of limitations. In March, the Paris public prosecutor requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence over accusations that he sexually assaulted two women on a film set. A decision is expected on Tuesday. Here is a timeline of key moments in Depardieu's rise and fall: Dec. 27, 1948: Born in Châteauroux, in a modest family of six children. His youth is tumultuous. Depardieu lives close to an American military base and rubs shoulders with small-time hoodlums, smuggling all kinds of goods. 1960s: Depardieu arrives in Paris. He takes acting classes and discovers all the great classics of literature while undergoing therapy to correct his speech difficulties. 1967: Depardieu makes his screen debut in the short film 'Le Beatnik et le Minet' and appears in his first stage play. 1972: Features in 'Nathalie Granger,' directed by Marguerite Duras. 1974: First big hit in France with 'Les Valseuses,' ('Going Places'), Bertrand Blier's classic farce about two wandering thugs. 1980s: Depardieu becomes the most sought-after French actor. Maurice Pialat casts him in 'Loulou,' the highly acclaimed 'Police,' for which he won an acting prize at the 1985 Venice Film Festival, and 'Under Satan's Sun,' a provocative tale about a monk's encounter with the devil which won Cannes' Palme d'Or in 1987. Depardieu stars in many hits: 'The Woman Next Door,' 'Jean de Florette,' 'The Last Metro,' 'Danton,' 'The Return of Martin Guerre.″ 1991: Depardieu receives a nomination for the best actor Oscar for his performance in 'Cyrano de Bergerac.' But controversy ensues after Time magazine carries an affirmation by Depardieu that he took part in a rape as a 9-year-old. The movie suffers a bloody nose at the Oscars. Depardieu categorically denies saying he took part in rape. 'It's outrageous at 9 years old or at any age,' he told the French newspaper Le Monde. 'Yes, one can say I had sexual experiences when I was very young, but a rape, never. I respect women too much.' 1990s: Depardieu's career is unaffected in France. He stars in Jean-Luc Godard's 'Hélas pour moi.' Meanwhile, Depardieu reinforces his popularity with mass audiences with the Astérix & Obélix film series. 1998: Depardieu crashes his motorcycle. His blood-alcohol limit is five times the legal level. He escapes with leg and face injuries. The incident was one of several encounters with the law for Depardieu, who also grabbed headlines when he urinated in the aisle of a plane before takeoff on a Paris to Dublin flight, and when he was detained for allegedly driving drunk on his scooter. 1999: Depardieu returns to the French stage for the first time in 13 years as a guilt-ravaged emperor in a murder-mystery. 2000: Depardieu undergoes successful coronary bypass surgery. Oct. 13, 2008: Death of his son Guillaume Depardieu. 2013: After sparring with his native country over taxes, Depardieu is granted Russian citizenship by Vladimir Putin. 2014: Depardieu plays the leading role in 'Welcome to New York,' the film inspired by the life of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former director of the International Monetary Fund who was accused in 2011 of sexually assaulting a hotel maid. 2018: Prosecutors in Paris open a preliminary investigation after actor Charlotte Arnould accused Depardieu of raping her at his home. That case is still active, and in August 2024 prosecutors requested that it go to trial. 2023: His wax figure is removed from Paris' most famous wax museum following negative reactions from visitors over allegations about his conduct with women. The decision to remove the figure from the Grevin Museum followed a TV documentary showing him repeatedly making obscene remarks and gestures during a 2018 trip to North Korea. 2025: Depardieu goes on trial in Paris on charges of sexually assaulting two women on a movie set. He is accused of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant during filming in 2021 of 'Les Volets Verts.'
Associated Press
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Former Brazil defender turned manager Cris causes uproar with misogynistic comments during pep talk
CHATEAUROUX, France (AP) — Former Brazil center back Cris, now the manager of third-tier French club La Berrichonne de Châteauroux, has offered apologies for the misogynistic comments he made in front of his players during a pep talk last week. The club said on Wednesday it regrets the words used by Cris 'in a private location' but supported the coach because 'his words do not reflect Cris' human and professional values.' Last-place Châteauroux travelled to Quevilly-Rouen on Friday and secured an important 2-1 win. The club later posted on social networks a video of Cris' pre-match talk that went viral. The former Lyon defender, who earned 17 caps with Brazil during his playing career, can be seen in the locker room as he tries to motivate his players by comparing them to men on a night out aiming to have sex with women. 'When you go to a club, you meet a girl, you look at her and you want to (expletive) her,' he said. 'That's the way it is today. We need to look at them in the face to (expletive) them.' Cris went on to use more expletives and clichés linked to masculine virility to urge his players to be up to the task. The club said that Cris offered apologies for his 'clumsy' words and published a statement from the coach. 'I recognize that my comments were inappropriate,' he said. 'My intention was to motivate my players, but I realize that the language used was inappropriate and does not reflect the values of respect that I uphold.' The club added it finds 'unfortunate' that the video posted by its communications department was not more carefully considered and apologized for the reaction it caused. 'However, Cris has always shown great respect for the club, its players and supporters,' Châteauroux said. 'La Berrichonne de Châteauroux and its chairman Benjamin Gufflet would like to reiterate their commitment to respect for all, and women in particular.' ___
