Gerard Depardieu sex assault trial set to begin in Paris

Gerard Depardieu is set to go on trial in Paris on Monday, with the French actor facing two allegations of sexual assault in the country's highest profile #MeToo case.

Depardieu is accused of attacking the women while shooting the 2021 film Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

Prosecutors say the actor made explicit sexual remarks to, and then aggressively "groped", two members of the movie's production team. If convicted he could face five years in prison.

The 75-year-old denies the charges and said in an open letter published last year that he has never "abused a woman". His lawyer asked for a delay to the trial early on Monday, citing the actor's health issues.

"Gerard Depardieu is extremely affected and unfortunately his doctors have forbid him from being present at the hearing, which is why he will ask for a postponement to a later date so that he can attend", Jeremie Assous told local media.

The trial marks a major moment for France's #MeToo movement, with Depardieu being the highest profile figure in French cinema to face accusations of sexual assault. The women - who have not been named - say Depardieu made sexual comments to them. They say he also "violently grabbed" and "groped" them.

Depardieu's lawyer has accused the women of "false accusations". He also claimed that one of the women was attempting to "make money" by claiming €30,000 ($32,500; £25,000) in compensation, Le Monde reported.

Since the allegations surfaced, Depardieu has become a virtual pariah. He has not appeared in a film since 2022, and he faces a second trial next year on charges of raping the actress Charlotte Arnould twice at his home in Paris. He denies the allegations.

Depardieu has also been accused of sexual assault by more than a dozen other women.

Despite the mounting allegations, the star has received strong messages of support from some members of France's artistic community. A group of more than 50 actors, directors and producers said accusations against Depardieu were "an attack on art itself" in a letter published last year.

Signed by actors Charlotte Rampling, Carole Bouquet, Pierre Richard, and the singers Carla Bruni and Jacques Dutronc, the letter said they could not "remain silent in the face of the lynching that has fallen upon [Depardieu]".

French President Emmanuel Macron also attracted anger, after describing the actor as "the pride of France" last year. Macron added that Depardieu was being subjected to a "manhunt". Campaigners said the comments undermined efforts to protect women from violence.

Actress Léa Seydoux called Macron's comments "crazy", adding that it "gives a very bad image for France".

Despite Macron's show of support, his then-culture minister Rima Abdul-Malak said she would look into withdrawing Depardieu's Legion d'Honneur after footage emerged of him making sexual comments around women in a 2018 documentary filmed in North Korea.