Roman Polanski cleared of defamation charges against British actress

Film director Roman Polanski has been acquitted by a French court of defaming British actress Charlotte Lewis, who accused him of sexually assaulting her during her teenage years.

At age 56, Lewis claimed in 2010 that the Franco-Polish director had sexually assaulted her in 1983 at his Paris apartment when she was 16, following a casting session in the French capital.

Lewis went on to star in Polanski’s 1986 film ‘Pirates’.

Lewis initiated a defamation lawsuit against Polanski following his characterization of her allegations as a "heinous lie" during a 2019 interview with Paris Match magazine.

According to The Telegraph, Lewis tearfully said she would appeal the verdict.

“I feel sad and let down. It’s a sad day for women and men. But it’s not over. We are going to appeal,” Lewis said.

Delphine Meillet, Polanski’s lawyer, declared the verdict as “an important day for free speech and for defence rights”, before adding, “today a court said: yes one can challenge accusations.”

Polanski, known for directing acclaimed films such as ‘Chinatown,’ ‘Rosemary's Baby,’ ‘The Pianist,’ and ‘Carnage,’ fled to Europe from California in 1978 after admitting guilt to unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl, prior to sentencing. 

Although the allegations never went to trial, Polanski has consistently denied them. 

However, securing global distribution deals for his movies has proven challenging, despite continued interest from actors. 

In 2020, Polanski received the Best Director award for ‘An Officer and a Spy’ at the Cesars, leading to several women leaving the audience in protest of honoring him amidst the allegations.