Amid a string of sexual misconduct allegations, Kevin Spacey has thanked an Italian museum for having 'the balls' to invite him to an awards ceremony.
The 63-year-old, who won a lifetime achievement award from the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, made an emotional speech in front of a sold out crowd in Turin, Italy on Monday (16 January).
It was his first voluntary public appearance in five years.
“The first performance that I ever gave was in my junior high school drama class. It was a little five-minute scene that we had to create, with no words,” Spacey said, as reported by Variety.
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“But we could have music. I was 11 years old. And I decided to do a Western scene, so that I could play a cowboy. Well, a bank robber. The bad guy, naturally.
“I have been so honored to have been part of the creative process with so many remarkable people. Filmmakers, artists and technicians I have had the chance to work with.
“Who would not consider tonight the perfect opportunity to say, ‘Thank you!’ You are not just honoring me. You are honoring all of them.”
Expressing his gratitude to the museum, the actor used a very specific Italian term in his thank you speech.
“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 added.
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'Le palle' translates to English as 'a pair', or what Italians refer to as 'having the balls'.
He went on to thank his manager Evan Lowenstein, for giving him 'so much advice, counsel' and 'perspective'.
“It’s almost impossible to tell you all what he has done. The degree of guidance and wisdom that he has brought to my life. He is unlike anyone,” the actor continued.
“Evan has not only stood beside me. He has stood in front of me when I needed to be led and stood behind me when I needed to be shoved.
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“He is a remarkable man and it has been his ability to take whatever setbacks we’ve faced and somehow get up and keep moving forward. And that has given me the strength to somehow stand up and follow him. I am truly blessed to have you as my brother. The brother I never had, so thank you.”
Spacey's award winning comes just days after he appeared in the UK facing seven charges of sexual assault against a man in the early 2000s - allegations the actor has denied.
In October last year, a New York federal jury found that Spacey did not sexually abuse actor Anthony Rapp in 1986 when he was just 14 years old and when Spacey was 26.
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Spacey has also faced allegations in Massachusetts that he allegedly groped a man at a bar. Prosecutors later dropped the charges.
In August 2022, Spacey was ordered to pay $30.9 million (£25.4 million) to the makers of House of Cards - who dropped him from the show - for violating his contract by sexually harassing crew members.
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV