Filmmaker Roman Polanski will be decided on his fate this Tuesday, May 14 in the trial between him and Charlotte Lewis, the hearing of which was held in March. This 56-year-old British actress, to whom Polanski had entrusted a role in 1986 in his film Pirates, is suing the director for defamation for having called her a liar when she accused him of rape. Polanski’s lawyers, who believe that he “ has the right to defend himself ”, denounced a “ absurd trial “.
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Roman Polanski will soon be decided on his fate. In the trial which opposes him to the British actress Charlotte Lewis, the filmmaker 90-year-old is being sued for defamation for comments made in Paris Match magazine in 2019. He was then questioned about accusations of sexual assault and rape brought against him by several women, including Charlotte Lewis. In 2010, this actress claimed that the director of Rosemary’s Baby raped her in 1983, when she was 16 years old.
From “ odious lies “, according to Polanski, who also deplored in this interview that ” Charlotte Lewis is always mentioned in the list of [s]are accusers without ever pointing out their contradictions “.
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The actress says she was the victim of a “ smear campaign »
To illustrate these “ contradictions » supposed, the director’s lawyers notably mentioned at the hearing an article dating back to 1999, in which the actress is quoted saying: “ He fascinated me and I wanted to be his mistress. I probably wanted him more than he wanted me. »
The actress, who partly contests the comments attributed to her, explained that she had been the victim of a “ smear campaign ” Who ” almost destroyed his life », following his revelations.
The court’s decision will focus neither on the reality of the alleged rape, nor on the authenticity of the quotes attributed to the actress. “ The question is whether or not Roman Polanski misused his freedom of expression » recalled the prosecutor, who issued “ doubts » on the reality of defamation. She did not call for a conviction.
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