Oscar-winning star Kevin Spacey smiled and waved as he arrived at his trial on allegations that he sexually abused four men during his glittering Hollywood career.
The 63-year-old actor and former artistic director at The Old Vic theatre in London faces 12 charges over alleged incidents between 2001 and 2013.
Spacey, wearing a navy suit and pink tie, arrived by taxi at Southwark crown court on Wednesday for the start of a four-week trial in front of judge and jury.
The actor stopped briefly to say good morning to the waiting crowd before entering the court building.
A jury of 12 was selected for the trial, with prosecutor Christine Agnew KC expected to open the case against Spacey on Friday morning.
The charges were also formally read out by the clerk of the court.
After they filled in a questionaire, Mr Justice Wall told the prosective jurors: “I’m sure the defendant will be gratified to know many of you know his name or have seen his films.
“That doesn’t disqualify you from sitting on this jury.”
He also warned jurors to avoid media reports of the case: “This is a case which has attracted, quite obviously, and will continue to attract a lot of media coverage. That will not only be in newspapers, on television and radio, but also probably on social media as well.
You must try to avoid coverage where you can.
“There’s a risk that if you pay heed to what’s reported about this trial, you might be – probably unwittingly – influenced into thinking only the things that appear in the press reporting are important, and things that don’t make it into those reports are not.
“You will decide what evidence is important, what you accept as truthful, and what are the right conclusions to draw from the evidence.
“Please avoid as far as you can any media reports. If you catch it, make sure please you put it out of your mind and rely solely on your assessment of the evidence as it is presented to you.”
The court is expected to hear allegations that the actor indecently assaulted the men and forced them into sexual activity without consent.
Spacey started his career as a theatre actor in the 1980s, and has appeared in hit films including Glengarry Glen Ross, Se7en, Horrible Bosses, and LA Confidential.
He won his first Academy Award for a supporting turn in The Usual Suspects, and won a Best Actor Oscar in 1999 for his role in American Beauty.
Spacey took up his post at the Old Vic in 2003, and made his Shakespeare debut two years later with the lead role in Richard II.
He drew big names to the London theatre, including Jeff Goldblum, Sam Mendes, Colm Meaney, and Neve Cambell, and he was awarded an honorary knighthood shortly after his tenure as artistic director ended in 2015.
The actor was charged in May 2022 following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police, appearing on court lists under his full name Kevin Spacey Fowler.
Across a series of pre-trial hearings, Spacey pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent assault, seven counts of sexual assault, one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one allegation of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
The alleged victims, now in their 30s and 40s, are all expected to give evidence during the course of the trial.
Spacey’s career came to a shuddering halt when he was first accused of sexual misconduct. He was dropped from the final season of House of Cards while his part in All The Money In The World was recast and reshot with Christopher Plummer in the role.
The actor has a legal team headed by Patrick Gibbs KC.
