Kevin Spacey receives lifetime achievement award in Italy ahead of U.K. sex assault trial – National | 24CA News

Kevin Spacey was honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the National Museum of Cinema in Italy on Monday.

The ceremony in Turin, Italy was the actor’s first public talking look in 5 years, as Spacey has been principally silent since quite a few sexual assault allegations had been made in opposition to him in 2017.

Vittorio Sgarbi, the undersecretary to the Italian Ministry of Culture, introduced Spacey, 63, with the celebrated Stella della Mole Award on the sold-out occasion.

“Tonight, we’re witnessing Kevin Spacey’s comeback,” Sgarbi mentioned, as per the Hollywood Reporter. “The one living through cinema is an immortal man, and it is precisely him that we are awarding this prize to tonight.”

Spacey thanked the Italian National Museum of Cinema for having “the courage” and “le palle” (that means “balls”) to ask him to the occasion.

“By presenting this award, they are making a strong defence of artistic achievement and for that they should be applauded,” Spacey mentioned.

He turned emotional as he thanked his supervisor Evan Lowenstein, whom he referred to as “the brother I never had.”

“It’s thanks to him that I realized I had to take all the setbacks and mistakes I made and get back on my feet, move on,” Spacey mentioned. “It’s not just what he does for me: it’s what he does for his wife, his kids, his friends.”

Spacey participated in a masterclass the place he spoke with museum director Domenico De Gaetano about his profession, which incorporates starring roles within the Netflix collection House of Cards and the movie The Usual Suspects. 

Spacey mentioned he felt “extremely lucky” on Monday.

“I’ve been doing this job for over 40 years, and I’ve only ever received kindness and support from my fans and co-workers,” he mentioned. “I am honoured to be part of this process.”

Following the masterclass, Spacey launched a screening of the 1999 movie American Beauty, for which he gained an Oscar in 2000.

Spacey advised the Italian news company Ansa that he continues to stay a traditional life, regardless of the allegations in opposition to him.

“I live my life each day, I go to the restaurant, I meet people, I drive, I play tennis, I’ve always met generous, genuine and compassionate people,” he mentioned.  “I haven’t hidden away. I haven’t gone to live in a cave.”

In June, Spacey is anticipated to face trial within the U.Ok. for quite a few sexual offence costs, together with indecent assault, sexual assault and inflicting an individual to have interaction in sexual exercise with out consent. Spacey has denied all the allegations, which come from 4 males who accused the actor of assault between 2001 and 2013.

In October 2022, a New York court docket decided that Spacey didn’t sexually abuse actor Anthony Rapp when he was a minor.

Also final 12 months, Spacey was ordered to pay an almost US$31-million arbitration settlement to the makers of House of Cards after he was fired for the sexual harassment of crew members.

Since the allegations, Spacey has been working primarily in Europe. His movie The Man Who Drew God premiered on the Torino Film Festival in December 2022. He may also star in Michael Hoffman’s Italian movie Gore as American author Gore Vidal.

— With recordsdata from The Associated Press 

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