‘Thanks for having the balls to invite me!’ Kevin Spacey accepts Lifetime Achievement Award in Turin

Kevin Spacey thanked the Italian National Film Museum for having ‘the balls’ to receive him when he accepted the Stella della Mole (Lifetime Achievement) award in Turin.

The disgraced actor, 63, said he felt “truly blessed and grateful” to be honored at the ceremony on Monday, ahead of a sexual assault retrial in June.

He dressed in a tuxedo and gave a master class as he was celebrated for contributing to the growth of cinema, a decision that has proven controversial in the country.

Kevin, who saw a series of accusations against him in the wake of the #MeToo movement, also hosted a screening of his 1999 film American Beauty.

He told the audience: ‘The first performance I did was in my high school drama class. It was a little five-minute scene that we had to create, without words.

But we could have music. I was 11 years old. And I decided to do a western scene, so I could play a cowboy. Well, a bank robber. The bad, naturally.

“I feel very honored to have been a part of the creative process with so many extraordinary people. Filmmakers, artists and technicians with whom I have had the opportunity to work.

Eek! The disgraced actor, 63, said he felt “truly blessed and grateful” to be honored at the ceremony on Monday, ahead of a new sexual assault trial in June.

‘Who wouldn’t consider tonight the perfect opportunity to say ‘Thank you!’ You’re not just honoring me. You are honoring them all.

‘I am truly blessed, grateful and honored. And my heart is very full tonight towards the Museo Nacional del Cine for having the le palle to invite me tonight.’

‘Le palle’ translates to ‘a pair’ in England, used by Italians as ‘to have the balls’. He then thanked his manager Evan Lowenstein for his loyalty.

Kevin added: ‘It’s almost impossible to tell you everything he’s done. The degree of guidance and wisdom he has brought to my life. He is different from anyone.

In suit and boots: Kevin donned a classic black tuxedo and red bow tie for the occasion.

‘Evan has not only been by my side. He stood in front of me when he needed to be led and he stood behind me when he needed to be pushed.

“He is a remarkable man and it has been his ability to overcome any setback we have faced and somehow pick himself up and keep going.

‘And that has given me the strength to somehow rise up and follow him. I am truly blessed to have you as my brother. The brother I never had, so thank you.

The sold-out events were billed as Kevin’s first speaking engagements since #MeToo-era allegations derailed his breakneck career.

Strange decision: He gave a master class while being celebrated for contributing to the growth of cinema, a decision that has proven controversial in the country.

The actor, who shot his most recent movie, director Franco Nero’s The Man Who Drew God, in Turin, appeared to be in good spirits, smiling brightly as he put on a lively display during his time on stage.

The two-time Academy Award winner lost his starring role in the Netflix series House of Cards and saw other opportunities dry up after sexual abuse allegations surfaced in 2017.

Speaking in November 2022 when the award was announced, the museum’s president, Enzo Ghigo, said: “We are honored that such a prestigious guest as Kevin Spacey has chosen Turin and our museum for this long-awaited return to a public event. “.

Multiple duties: Kevin, who saw a series of allegations against him in the wake of the #MeToo movement, also hosted a screening of his 1999 film American Beauty.

‘Now, among all the cities in the world, he chose Turin for a master class. He couldn’t give us a better gift than this”, also said Domenico De Gaetano, director of the national museum who will moderate the master class.

The decision to award Spacey the gong has been the subject of widespread controversy with the actor at the center of several allegations of sexual abuse.

Past winners of the Stella della Mole award include actresses Isabella Rossellini and Monica Bellucci, and director Dario Argento.

Kevin’s acceptance of the award comes as the Oscar winner spoke, days after denying seven more charges of sexual offenses against a man in the early 2000s in a London court on Friday.

Animated: Kevin put on an animated display during his time on stage.

The Hollywood pariah told Italian news agency Ansa that he has tried to live each day as it comes and has not “gone to live in a cave.”

He said: ‘I live my life every day, I go to the restaurant, I meet people, I drive, I play tennis, I have always met generous, genuine and compassionate people.

I have not hidden, I have not gone to live in a cave. What you see in the media is not real life, I am not going to get my public life back because I have never left it.’

Among the accusations against the Hollywood star are sexual contact, touching clothing and forcing the complainant’s hand against his private parts on clothing.

Delighted: He seemed to be in a good mood, smiling happily throughout the ceremony.

Spacey faced the charges at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, having previously denied five allegations relating to three other men who are now in their 30s and 40s.

The new charges include three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, on unspecified dates between 2001 and 2005.

Spacey, who appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London via video link, confirmed his identity and pleaded not guilty to all seven charges against him.

SOLD OUT: The sold-out events were billed as Kevin’s first speaking engagements since #MeToo-era allegations derailed his breakneck career

He now faces a total of 12 charges involving four men between 2001 and 2013.

The two-time Academy Award winner, known for his starring roles in American Beauty, The Usual Suspects and House Of Cards, appeared at the Old Bailey in July last year to deny all five of the above charges.

He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

The first two charges relate to the alleged sexual assault of a man, now in his 40s, in London on March 20, 2005.

The second alleged victim, a man now in his 30s, claims he was sexually assaulted by Spacey in London on August 31, 2008.

Spacey also faces one felony sex charge for causing a person to engage in nonconsensual penetrative sexual activity in relation to the second alleged victim.

He faces a fourth charge of sexual assault against the third complainant, now in his 30s, in Gloucestershire in April 2013.

Controversial: The decision to award Spacey the gong has faced widespread controversy with the actor at the center of several sexual abuse allegations.

Speaking of Spacey’s initial five charges, his defense attorney Patrick Gibbs, KC, said: “Mr. Spacey strongly denies any wrongdoing in this case.”

The actor has vowed to “establish his innocence.”

Spacey has been granted unconditional bail and will face a four-week trial on all charges on June 6. A pretrial review is scheduled to take place on April 5.

In October last year, the actor, who was artistic director of The Old Vic between 2004 and 2015, won a civil lawsuit in the United States accusing him of an “unwanted sexual advance” at a party in 1986.

In that lawsuit, Spacey “categorically denied” the allegations, saying that he “did not harbor any sexual interest or desire” at the time or since the alleged incident.

On October 20 of last year, a jury found Spacey not responsible and the New York court dismissed the sexual assault lawsuit against the actor.

Speaking: The Hollywood outsider recently told Italian news agency Ansa that he’s tried to live each day as it comes, and hasn’t “gone to live in a cave.”