"I'm filled with gratitude for those in my industry who stood by me, those individuals who were willing to wait for an outcome in the courts before they decided how they felt about me," Spacey said in the interview.
Kevin Spacey is speaking out about how his controversies will impact his career.
On June 26, the two-time Academy Award winner, 65, took part in an onstage interview at the Italian Global Series Festival (IGSF) in Rimini, Italy. According to Deadline, Spacey stated that he was "incredibly excited about going back to work in a substantial way."
The actor, however, also reflected on the impact that his past legal troubles have had on his career. In 2017, Spacey was fired from the Netflix series House of Cards when he was accused of sexual misconduct; Spacey denied the claims. The actor was cleared of sexual abuse charges in 2022 in New York, as well as sexual assault claims brought forth in a 2023 London case.
"These experiences have allowed me to stop, assess, reassess and listen, and be very grateful for the work I'm able to do both on screen and off screen," Spacey told IGSF Artistic Director Marco Spagnoli during the interview, per Deadline. He also noted the support he's received in the midst of his legal troubles.
Kevin Spacey is speaking out about how his controversies will impact his career.
On June 26, the two-time Academy Award winner, 65, took part in an onstage interview at the Italian Global Series Festival (IGSF) in Rimini, Italy. According to Deadline, Spacey stated that he was "incredibly excited about going back to work in a substantial way."
The actor, however, also reflected on the impact that his past legal troubles have had on his career. In 2017, Spacey was fired from the Netflix series House of Cards when he was accused of sexual misconduct; Spacey denied the claims. The actor was cleared of sexual abuse charges in 2022 in New York, as well as sexual assault claims brought forth in a 2023 London case.
"These experiences have allowed me to stop, assess, reassess and listen, and be very grateful for the work I'm able to do both on screen and off screen," Spacey told IGSF Artistic Director Marco Spagnoli during the interview, per Deadline. He also noted the support he's received in the midst of his legal troubles.
Several Hollywood stars have spoken out in support of Spacey returning to the movie business, including Sharon Stone, Liam Neeson and Brian Cox.
In the interview, Spacey also addressed those in Hollywood "who rushed to judgment and decided I was guilty, and treated me accordingly." "They have my forgiveness, but I am not seeking them out to collaborate," the actor added. (Spacey is currently facing another sexual abuse civil lawsuit, brought forth against him in the U.K. in February 2025.)
In May, the actor accepted a lifetime achievement award bestowed by the Better World Fund at an event in Cannes, France. In his acceptance speech, per Variety, he said that he has "come out the other side of these last few challenging years not angry, not bitter, not resentful,but more present, more loving, more understanding and more forgiving than I ever have been in my life."
Rent actor Anthony Rapp -- who alleged that Spacey molested him when he was 14, in the Manhattan civil case where Spacey was found not liable -- said during a public appearance in November 2022 that he understands why many victims don't seek legal action against perpetrators.
"What is proof? How do you prove things? Part of the movement is so much about honoring a story, listening, being a mirror ... healing. You speak about these things. Those things aren't necessarily anything that a courtroom is at all interested in,"
the actor, 53, said at the time, per Variety.
Spacey recently appeared in the upcoming thriller The Awakening, which was searching for buyers at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. He has also appeared in films like The Man Who Drew God (2022) and Peter Five Eight (2024).