Controversial figure Kevin Spacey has spoken out just days after he denied seven sexual assault charges against himself.
It also comes just days before the Oscar-winning actor is due to collect a film award in Italy - something that has proven extremely controversial in the country.
On Friday (13 January), Spacey pleaded not guilty to seven sexual assault charges at Southwark Crown Court in London.
The House of Cards actor appeared via a videolink, where he denied three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
Advert
The alleged offences supposedly took place between 2001 and 2005 in the UK.
Following his not guilty plea, Spacey spoke to Italian news agency Ansa on how he lives his life with all these charges hanging over him.
He said: "I live my life each day, I go to the restaurant, I meet people, I drive, I play tennis, I've always met generous, genuine and compassionate people.
"I haven't hidden away, I haven't gone to live in a cave.
"What you see in the media is not real life, I'm no getting my public life back because I've never left it."
Spacey certainly hasn't been shying away from the public eye in Italy, as he was spotted in the stands watching Torino FC against Spezia Calcio in the Serie A on Sunday (15 January).
At the Stadio Olimpico di Torino, the former Hollywood actor was presented with a Torino FC football shirt with the number 26 and his name on the back.
The decision for Spacey to be recognised with an award has been met with uproar by many because of the ongoing sexual abuse allegations against him.
In July last year, Spacey denied five allegations relating to three different men, who are all now in their 30s and 40s.
The 63-year-old is now facing a total of 12 sexual offences against four men, with a trial set to begin in June.
But despite that, Spacey is still set to receive the award from the Italian museum this week.
Speaking in November when it was announced, the museum's president Enzo Ghigo said: "We are honoured that such a prestigious guest as Kevin Spacey chose Turin and our museum for this long-awaited return to an event with an audience."
While in Italy, Spacey is also set to receive a masterclass session, Domenico De Gaetano - the person moderating the masterclass, was quoted saying: "Now, among all of the cities of the world, he chose Turin for a master class. He couldn't give us a better present than this."
Topics: News, Kevin Spacey
Callum Jones