Gérard Depardieu, 76, has been found guilty as his trial on charges of sexually assaulting two women during the filming of Les Volets Verts ( The Green Shutters ) in 2021 has concluded.

The actor, considered the biggest star of French cinema, was not present in court when the verdict was handed down. However, he was convicted of sexually assaulting a 54-year-old set designer and a 34-year-old assistant director during the filming of Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters) in Paris in September 2021.

The allegations, made by an assistant director and assistant director, include multiple incidents of inappropriate touching, both on set and in public, and the 76-year-old Depardieu denies all allegations.

Depardieu faces up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine, although prosecutors have specifically requested a suspended sentence. The verdict was given by a panel of judges rather than a jury, as is customary in France.