Actress defamed? Director Polanski in court in the Italian province of Paris approves a law that kills eight bears a year

Acclaimed and controversial director Roman Polanski described actress Charlotte Lewis’ abuse allegations as a disgusting lie in an interview. Because of his harsh words, he has been on trial in Paris since Tuesday on suspicion of defamation.

In addition to the 90-year-old filmmaker, the editor of the magazine ‘Paris Match’, in which the interview was published at the end of 2019, must also answer. Polanski himself did not appear in court at the start of the trial.

In 2010, Lewis, a British woman, accused French-Polish director Polanski of sexually assaulting her in the 1980s. “He knew I was 16 years old when he forced himself on me in his apartment in Paris,” the actress said. Lewis played a small role in Polanski’s film “Pirates” (1986).

The interview caused a stir

Polanski denied the allegations. In the ‘Paris Match’ interview at the end of 2019, the director also referred to statements made by the actress who, in his opinion, cast doubt on the allegations. In another interview, Lewis said that at 14 she did not know how many men she had had sex with for money, and that she was fascinated by Polanski and wanted to be his lover.

“The basic quality of a good liar is an excellent memory,” Polanski told the newspaper. “Charlotte Lewis is always included in the list of my accusers without ever pointing out these contradictions.” Lewis had said of the interview quoted by Polanski that numerous quotes attributed to her were not accurate.

The actress stated in the French newspaper ‘Le Parisien’ that a smear campaign had already been started against her in 2010. It was like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. She suffered from it every day. This also affected her career and health.

According to the newspaper, Lewis sees a conviction of Polanski as a form of justice. «Roman Polanski knows very well that I have never been a prostitute or a liar. I just want to clear my name for my son and his future children.” Maybe one day she can start a normal life.

Several accusations against Polanski

Lewis is far from the only woman to have made serious accusations against Polanski. Especially since the rise of the #MeToo movement in 2017, several women have accused the creator of countless cinematic masterpieces of sexual abuse, especially in the 1970s. Accusations he denies.

In the wake of #MeToo, Polanski was also expelled from the Oscar Academy in 2018. For many he has now become an unwanted person. He defended himself in the ‘Paris Match’ and people have been trying to ‘make a monster out of him’ for years.

A case against Polanski has also been ongoing in the US for more than forty years: Polanski is said to have used drugs to subdue a 13-year-old girl in the villa of Hollywood star Jack Nicholson in 1977 and then raped her. Polanski pleaded guilty at the time and spent 42 days in psychiatric custody. The day before the official verdict was announced, he fled to France for fear that his sentence would be extended. Since then, he has lived mainly in France and avoids visiting countries that have an extradition treaty with the United States. (sda/dpa)