In the middle of a judicial process, Kevin Spacey awarded for his entire career in Italy

American actor Kevin Spacey, whose career has been on hold since he was accused of sexually assaulting several men, received an award at Turin’s National Museum of Cinema on Monday.

“Tonight we are witnessing the return of Kevin Spacey,” Enzo Sgarbi, the museum’s president, enthused. “He who lives through the cinema is an immortal man and he is this man we are awarding tonight.”

Kevin Spacey, in his speech, thanked the museum for having “the courage, the balls to [l’]invite”. Tonight was the first public act in which the actor participated since the accusations against him.

“Tonight I feel extremely lucky,” he added. “I’ve been in this business for over 40 years and only got good things from my fans and colleagues.”

In the middle of a judicial process

Kevin Spacey is also in the middle of a legal process. He pleaded not guilty to seven new UK sexual assault charges last Friday, months after previously denying similar charges.

The Hollywood star actor, 63, who attended the hearing at Southwark Court in London via video link, is accused of sexual assault on a man, which allegedly occurred between 2001 and 2004.

The two-time Oscar winner (for American Beauty Y usual suspects) has already been prosecuted for four sexual assaults on three men between March 2005 and April 2013, when he was director of the Old Vic theater in London.

Heard in July during a hearing for which he had made the trip to London, he had also pleaded not guilty. In all, he must answer 12 counts related to allegations of sexual assault on four men between 2001 and 2013.

The trial of the actor scheduled for next June and which should last a month, will deal with all these cases. A due process hearing is scheduled for April 5.

Kevin Spacey has also faced charges in the United States. Last October, a New York civil court found him not guilty of sexual assault.

He had also been charged with indecent assault and sexual assault on an 18-year-old boy in a bar in the state of Massachusetts, on the east coast. The charges were dropped in July 2019.