Depardieu

Both women said that Depardieu, now 76, groped them on separate occasions.

The first plaintiff - a set decorator - told the court that after a minor argument with Depardieu, he caught her between his legs and held her by the hips.

The first plaintiff – a set decorator – told the court on Tuesday that after a minor argument with Depardieu he caught her between his legs, held her by the hips and told her obscenities.

This is the first case against Depardieu to come to trial, although in total about 20 women have accused him of improper behaviour.

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.