HOLLYWOOD actor Kevin Spacey is facing sexual assault charges in the United Kingdom, said police and prosecutors yesterday, after a review of allegations against him.

The two-time Oscar winner for American Beauty and The Usual Suspects was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre in London between 2004 and 2015.

Allegations against him first emerged in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which saw numerous claims of sexual assault and harassment in the movie industry.

This prompted an investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police, and a review by The Old Vic of the 62-year-old’s time in charge there.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in a statement said it has “authorised criminal charges” against the actor “for four counts of sexual assault against three men”.

“He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent,” said Rosemary Ainslie, from the service.

“The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.”

The Met separately said the first two counts of sexual assault in London date from March 2005, and concern the same man, who is now in his 40s.

The third is alleged to have happened in London in August 2008, against a man who is now in his 30s. The same man is alleged to be the victim of a separate charge.

The fourth sexual assault charge is alleged to have occurred in Gloucestershire, western England, in April 2013, against a third man, who is now in his 30s.

None of the alleged victims can be identified under English law.

The CPS, which brings prosecutions in England and Wales, and police both referred to Spacey by his full name, Kevin Spacey Fowler.

British legal restrictions are in place limiting what the media can report until the case comes before a jury to avoid prejudicing any trial.

The CPS said when considering whether to approve charges, it makes “fair, independent and objective” assessments about whether a case should go to court.

Claims against Spacey in 2017 led to the end of his involvement in the filming of the final season of political drama House of Cards.

He was also dropped from a Gore Vidal biopic on Netflix and as the industrialist John Paul Getty in All the Money in the World.

Christopher Plummer was brought in as a last-minute replacement.

Spacey, considered one of the finest actors of his generation, has previously denied similar charges in the United States.

A criminal case against him for sexual assault there was dropped in 2019.

The actor is currently in New York and facing a civil case arising from the abandoned criminal action, revealed US court documents.

British media said it is understood he has not been formally charged in the UK as he is not in the country, and there is no immediate word if he will have to be extradited. – AFP, May 27, 2022.