The 76-year-old film icon is convicted of assault against a 54-year-old during the filming of the film "Les volets verts". The woman has told of assault, harassment and sexist insults. The prosecution also included allegations from an assistant director. Depardieu is also convicted there, and in addition to the conditional prison sentence, he will be liable to pay around 315,000 kronor in damages.
The verdict will also be recorded in the sex offender registry.
Depardieu was not present when the verdict was read out in a Paris court on Tuesday, but his lawyer says it will be appealed. It is unclear where the actor was, but in April he was working on the Azores with the filming of a new film, directed by his friend Fanny Ardant.
"Boorish"
During the trial in March, the actor denied the crime but admitted that his behavior was considered "boorish".
I've always been told that I have a Russian personality, I don't know if it's due to drinking or vulgarity, he said then and simultaneously blamed the #MeToo movement for the trial, according to Le Monde.
In the audience were actor colleagues Vincent Perez and Fanny Ardant to support Depardieu.
Libération believes that the trial has made it clear that Depardieu targets women with insecure employment.
During his career, he has participated in over 200 films and TV series, including "Cyrano de Bergerac" from 1990, for which he was Oscar-nominated. During the trial, it was claimed that Depardieu of committing assaults over the decades. About 20 women have directed accusations against him, but this is the first case to be taken up in court.
Important test
He is the most high-profile person to be brought to justice after the French #MeToo movement, and the trial has been described as a test of France's willingness to tackle sexual violence. According to critical voices, the country has struggled with a deeply rooted unwillingness to confront assaults involving prominent cultural personalities.
