Gérard Depardieu, a French actor who essayed the role of The Cook in Ang Lee’s 2012 blockbuster, Life of Pi, is once again headlining the news. The actor, accused of an alleged 2018 r*pe and s*xual assault of actress Charlotte Arnould, now 29, is going to face the trial (via The Hollywood Reporter, published September 2, 2025).
In the summer of 2018, Arnould visited the actor in his Parisian home to ask for advice. She claimed that she was 22 years old when the deed took place. The two also share family-friend ties, since Arnould’s father is a friend of Gérard Depardieu. Furthermore, Charlotte Arnould stated that it wasn’t just once, but the misdeed took place on two separate occasions. Notably, the Green Card and Cyrano de Bergerac actor was 69 at the time.
With such a star of the French industry facing trials and allegations, the media scrutiny is lingering more than ever.
Inside Gérard Depardieu’s Turbulent Journey From Stardom to Scrutiny
Born in France in Châteauroux in 1948, Gérard Depardieu was a theatre artist before finally stepping into the world of movies. His performances in the 1974 film Les Valseuses, also known as Going Places, and The Last Metro, released in 1980, earned him his position as a sensational actor.
Depardieu is widely known for his acting in an American rom-com, a movie titled Green Card
In recent years, Depardieu has been grabbing attention not for his work, but sadly for his misconduct. The controversies surrounding him began in 1977. In an interview, the actor described his participation in r*pes from the age of nine years, shocking everyone (via The Washington Post, published March 24, 1991).
This was known in 1991 and definitely sparked backlash, but the French media defended it. Then, in 2018, French actress Charlotte Arnould accused him of the deed. Though the case was initially dropped, it resurfaced, leading to a charge in 2020.
Furthermore, in 2023, new accusations came along, which stated reports from 13 women on film and TV sets between 2004 and 2022, who experienced misconduct on Depardieu’s part (via Variety, published April 12, 2023).
This year, he was linked to the s*xual assault incidents on the set of The Green Shutters. Once again, several women testified against Depardieu, with defenses from friends and collaborators.
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Now, a new trial over Charlotte Arnould’s complaints will take place in a French criminal court. Relieved with the news, the actress shared on Instagram, saying, “Seven years later, seven years of horror and hell, I think I’m having trouble realizing how huge this is. I’m relieved.”
Depardieu will now be on trial, though he has dismissed all the rumours and accusations. It’s time to decide what’s right and what’s wrong.
What Was Gérard Depardieu’s Role in Ang Lee’s $609 Million Hit Life of Pi?
Ang Lee’s project, Life of Pi, is both a memorable and a creative mark in the Hollywood film industry. The film, nominated for a total of eleven Academy Awards, took home four awards, including Best Director.
| Key Points | Details |
| Title | Life of Pi |
| Director | Ang Lee |
| Based On | Life of Pi by Yann Martel |
| Cast | Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu, Rafe Spall, and Gérard Depardieu |
| IMDb | 7.9/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 86% |
| Film Earnings (via Box Office Mojo) | Domestic: $124,987,023 International: $484,029,542 Worldwide: $609,016,565 |
Depardieu portrayed the role of The Cook, who is seen as a brutal French chef aboard the Tsimtsum. The ship carries Pi (Suraj Sharma) and his family to Canada.
Depardieu’s role was minor, with a brief screen time. But, rest aside, the actor managed to leave a memorable mark on the audience’s mind with the aggressiveness that his character entailed. Gérard Depardieu was the first human survivor to die on a lifeboat, but the fate is told in two versions of Pi’s storytelling.
But now, as Depardieu faces trial, which overshadows his journey till now, it raises the question as to should his on-screen brilliance be remembered, or do they forever alter his place in film history? Drop your thoughts below.
Life of Pi is available to rent or buy on Amazon and Apple TV (USA).
