Actor Kevin Spacey poses with an award at the National Museum of Cinema in Turin
(Picture: AP)Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey has made his first public speaking engagement since sexual assault allegations surfaced against him.
The American Beauty star, 63, picked up a lifetime achievement award in Turin for his contribution to cinema.
The actor thanked the National Cinema Museum for having the “courage” to invite him to the event on Monday evening.
“I am truly blessed and grateful and humbled. And my heart is very full tonight toward the National Museum of Cinema for having had the ‘le palle’ to invite me tonight,” Spacey said, using the Italian word for a male body part synonymous with courage, to cheers from the audience.
“By presenting this award, they are making a strong defense of artistic achievement and for that they should be applauded,” Spacey said.
The two-time Oscar winner also hosted an acting masterclass for attendees at the sold-out event.
Mr Spacey is accused of forcing the complainant’s hand against his genitals over clothing and groping him.
He has previously denied five allegations relating to three other men who are now in their 30s and 40s. The latest charges date from 2001 to 2004.
Previous winners of the Stella della Mole Award include actors Isabella Rossellini and Monica Bellucci, and director Dario Argento.
The event was billed as Mr Spacey’s first speaking engagement in five years. After multiple allegations of sexual assault surfaced, the actor lost his starring role on the Netflix series “House of Cards” and saw other opportunities dry up.
Spacey did not directly address the allegations while accepting the award or during the hour-long masterclass. But he praised the loyalty of fans, saying “the bond I share with them will not be easily broken by unrestrained, ever-shifting mobocratic ties.”
He choked up as he thanked his manager Evan Lowenstein for his support, calling him “the brother I never had.”
Mr Spacey said he was also “enormously grateful” to Italian director Frank Nero, who hired him for a role in “The Man Who Drew God,” which was filmed in Turin. The actor will be on hand when the film will be previewed later this week in Rome.
He appeared at the Old Bailey in July last year to deny the five previous charges.
Mr Spacey has been granted unconditional bail and will face a four-week trial on all 12 charges on June 6. A pre-trial review is due to take place on April 5.
In October last year, the actor won a civil lawsuit in the US where he was accused of an “unwanted sexual advance” at a party.
