TURIN, Italy — In his first speaking appearance since sexual. Assault allegations derailed his career. Actor Kevin Spacey used a colorful Italian word to thank. The National Cinema Museum in the northern city of Turin on Monday for inviting him.
Spacey received a lifetime achievement award from the museum. Discussed the key role during a master class and then presented. The 1999 film “American Beauty,” for which he won his second acting Oscar, to a sold-out crowd.
“I’m blessed and grateful and humbled. And my heart goes out to the National Museum of Cinema tonight for inviting me to be at Le Palais.” Spacey said, using the Italian word for the male body part synonymous with courage. To cheers from the master class audience.
“By presenting this award, they are making a strong defense of artistic achievement. And should be commended for that,” Spacey said.
Previous winners of the Stella della Mole Award include actors. Isabella Rossellini and Monica Bellucci and director Dario Argento.
The sold-out events were billed as Spacey’s first speaking engagements in five years. After many allegations of sexual harassment surfaced. The actor lost his starring role in the Netflix series “House of Cards” and saw other opportunities dry up.
Spacey did not address the allegations while accepting. The award or during the hour-long class. But while noting the loyalty of many fans, he said “the bond. I share with them will not be broken by the loose, ever-changing democratic bonds.”
He choked up as he thanked his manager Evan Lowenstein, who he called “the brother I never had,” for his support.
Spacey said he was also “grateful” to Italian director Frank Nero. Who hired him for a role in “The Man Who Drew God,” filmed in Turin. Spacey will be on hand when the film previews later this week in Rome.
After the master class, fans lined up to take selfies and sign DVDs.
“I actually miss him, and he had a great role in the movie. He made Netflix what it is today,” said Chiara Ottolini, referring to the huge success of “House of Cards.” “I’m very happy to see him coming back, because we have to separate people and artists.”
Mary traveled from Milan to see Becky Spacey, whom she considered one of the greatest actors of all time. He said he used to travel more.
“When the scandal happened, I went into mourning because I knew very well that they would expel him now,” he said.
Spacey is due to go on trial in London in June for allegedly assaulting four men between 2001. And 2013, where he was artistic director at the city’s Old Vic theatre. He pleaded not guilty.
In October, a federal jury in a New York civil case found that Spacey, 63, did not assault actor Anthony Rapp. When the two were unknown Broadway actors in 1986 and Rapp was 14 years old. Jurors deliberated for more than an hour. Before deciding that Rapp, now 50, had not proven his allegations.
Spacey before faced charges in Massachusetts that he groped a man at a bar. Prosecutors later dropped the charges.
A Los Angeles judge in August upheld an arbitration decision ordering. Spacey to pay the producers of “House of Cards” $30.9 million for violating. His contract by harassing crew members.
Elena Cortini, a university design student. Who was watching “American Beauty” for the second time. Said she didn’t know what to make of the complaints and preferred to focus on the craft of the 1999 film.
“If he gets his life back together like he says, good for him,” he said.
