Newly uncovered footage has sparked fresh outrage against legendary French actor Gérard Depardieu, appearing to show the 77-year-old repeatedly touching a young woman without her consent during filming nearly 15 years ago.
The disturbing video, released Thursday, November 12, by French investigative outlets Mediapart and Le Média, shows Depardieu making unwanted physical contact with a 22-year-old female extra on the set of the 2013 comedy Turf.
The explosive revelation comes just days before the Green Card star is scheduled to return to court to appeal his conviction for sexually assaulting two other women.
The previously unseen footage was recorded on November 2, 2011, at the Auteuil horse racing track near Paris, where approximately 150 extras were participating in a scene.
The woman, identified as Olivia, was standing beside Depardieu when the alleged misconduct occurred.
According to Mediapart, the video shows the actor repeatedly touching her thighs, buttocks and intimate areas while she attempts to push his hand away. The unwanted contact was not part of the movie’s script.
Olivia, who was a college student at the time, has now spoken publicly about the encounter for the first time.
She recalled desperately trying to remove the actor’s hand, only for him to begin touching her again.
The woman also alleged that Depardieu repeatedly touched her chest during the filming.
What makes the footage particularly troubling is that the alleged misconduct occurred in plain sight, surrounded by cameras, crew members and dozens of other performers.
And according to newly revealed testimony, people working on the production were aware of the situation.
Casting director Fany Touya-Calmon told investigators that she intervened to protect female extras from the actor’s behavior.
She reportedly rearranged their positions to keep them beyond Depardieu’s reach and remained nearby during subsequent takes to prevent further unwanted contact.
Film director Fabien Onteniente also acknowledged that he was informed about the incident.
In an interview with Mediapart, Onteniente recalled that Olivia approached him in tears, prompting him to confront Depardieu.
The director said he sternly warned the actor to stop his behavior, reminding him that cameras had captured his actions.
According to Onteniente, Depardieu appeared embarrassed and reacted like a child who had been caught misbehaving.
Despite the complaints, the film continued production, and the incident did not result in a publicly reported criminal prosecution at the time.
The footage remained unseen by the public for nearly 15 years before investigators obtained and authenticated it.
Its release has renewed scrutiny of Depardieu, one of France’s most recognizable movie stars, whose career includes more than 200 film appearances and international hits such as Green Card, Cyrano de Bergerac and The Last Metro.
The actor has faced allegations of sexual misconduct from 22 women since 2018, according to Mediapart’s reporting.
In May 2025, a Paris court convicted Depardieu of sexually assaulting two women during the 2021 production of The Green Shutters, also known as Les Volets Verts.
The women, an assistant director and a set decorator, accused the actor of unwanted physical contact while they were working on the movie.
Depardieu received an 18-month suspended prison sentence. He has appealed the ruling and continues to deny wrongdoing.
His appeal hearing is scheduled to begin Monday, November 16, in Paris, making the timing of the newly released footage particularly significant.
He is also involved in a separate legal case concerning allegations that he raped French actress Charlotte Arnould. Depardieu denies those accusations, and a court is expected to consider whether that case should proceed to trial.
The controversy has even drawn political attention in France.
President Emmanuel Macron previously faced criticism after defending Depardieu against what he described as a public “manhunt,” remarks that reignited debate over how powerful celebrities are treated when facing allegations of sexual misconduct.
Depardieu and his legal representatives have repeatedly rejected accusations that he sexually assaulted women. His attorney has also criticized the influence of the #MeToo movement on the judicial process.
The latest footage, however, introduces a new element to the controversy: a video recording that French journalists say directly supports a woman’s account of unwanted touching.
With Depardieu’s appeal approaching and another major legal decision looming, the newly uncovered images are placing renewed attention on the actor’s conduct and the film industry’s response to complaints against powerful stars.
The allegations involving Olivia have not resulted in a reported criminal conviction. Depardieu continues to contest the other charges and convictions against him.