Kevin Spacey has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in Italy – days after he appeared in court in the UK to deny sexual assault allegations.
In his first official speech since taking office #me tooAfter the Times allegations came to light, the 63-year-old visited the city of Turin, where he was accused of Movie.
twice academic award The winner also plans to teach a master class and present a screening of the 1999 film American Beauty.
it came after spacey Appeared via video link at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday Denies three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing sexual activity without consent.
He has previously denied five other charges in the UK.
In a speech Monday night before accepting the award, Spacey – who has not given a formal public speech since the sexual abuse allegations came to light in 2017 – denied withdrawing from public life.
Speaking to the local ANSA news agency, he said: “I live my life every day, I go to restaurants, I meet people, I drive, I play tennis and I always meet generous, genuine, compassionate people.
“I didn’t hide, I didn’t live in a cave.”
Fans take pictures with Kevin Spacey
Spacey, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Film Museum in Turin, thanked the venue for “le palle,” Italian for “ball,” for inviting him.
He told the audience: “I am very grateful to the Film Museum for being able to invite me tonight.”
He also thanked Domenico De Gaetano, director of the museum, and Marco Fallanca, head of international relations, for organizing the event.
“By awarding this award, they have vigorously defended artistic achievement, and for that they should be applauded,” he said.
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Spacey also singled out his manager, Evan Lowenstein.
“Evan wasn’t just by my side. He was in front of me when I needed to be led and behind me when I needed to be pushed,” he said.
Spacey, who lost his starring role in House of Cards following the allegations, was in Turin filming his most recent film, The Man Who Drew God by director Franco Nero.
On Sunday, he visited soccer team Torino’s Stadio Olimpico for their Serie A match against Spezia, where he posed for photos wearing a club jersey with his name on it.
Spacey is scheduled to stand trial in London in June on charges he sexually assaulted four men between 2001 and 2013, including multiple charges from his time as artistic director of the city’s Old Vic Theatre.
He pleaded not guilty.
In October, a federal jury in a New York civil case found Spacey not responsible for sexual abuse allegations against actor Anthony Rapp dating back to 1986, when the pair were relatively unknown Broadway performers, when Rapp was just 14 .
Spacey previously faced charges in Massachusetts that he groped a man at a bar.
Prosecutors later dropped the charges.