Kevin Spacey speaks as he prepares to collect award days after denying seven sex offence charges

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has spoken out as he prepares to collect a film award in Italy this week, days after denying seven sex offence charges.

Spacey, who saw a series of allegations made against him in the wake of the #MeToo movement, is being honoured by the Italian National Cinema Museum - a decision that has proven controversial in the country.

After denying seven more sexual offences against a man in the early 2000s in a London court on Friday, the Hollywood outcast told Italian news agency Ansa that he has tried to live each day as it comes, and that he has not 'gone to live in a cave'. 

'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,' the 63-year-old said.

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has spoken out as he prepares to collect a film award in Italy this week, days after denying seven sex offence charges. Pictured: Spacey is seen on Friday walking the streets of Turin, on the same day as his virtual court appearance in London 

Spacey has been pictured making the most of Italy. He was in the stands to watch Torino FC face Spezia Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on Sunday, where he was presented with a Torino FC football shirt with his name on the back by the club's president Urbano Cairo (left)

'I haven't hidden away, I haven't gone to live in a cave,' he added. 'What you see in the media is not real life, I'm no getting my public life back because I've never left it'.

Among the accusations against the Hollywood star are sexual touching, touching over clothing, and forcing the complainant's hand against his privates over clothing.

Spacey faced the charges at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, having previously denied five allegations relating to three other men who are now in their 30s and 40s.

The new charges comprise three counts of indecent assault, three counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, on unspecified dates between 2001 and 2005.

Spacey has been pictured making the most of Italy. He was in the stands to watch Torino FC face Spezia Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on Sunday. 

There, he was presented with a Torino FC football shirt with his name on the back by the club's president Urbano Cairo.

In addition to receiving the lifetime achievement award on Monday from the Italian film museum, he is also set to give a masterclass session.

Speaking in November when the award 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.'

'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,' Domenico De Gaetano, the director of the national museum who will moderate the masterclass, was also quoted as saying.

The decision to award Spacey with the gong has been met with widespread controversy with the actor at the centre of several sexual abuse allegations. 

But the actor seemed in good spirits on the day of his virtual court appearance on Friday, he was seen walking the streets of Turin waving to fans.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of actor Kevin Spacey appearing via videolink from Italy at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has denied seven more sexual offences against a man in the early 2000s. Pictured: Spacey leaves the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court on July 14, 2022

Spacey, appearing at Southwark Crown Court in London by video link, confirmed his identity and pleaded not guilty to all seven of the charges against him.

He now faces a total of 12 charges relating to four men between 2001 and 2013.

The two-time Academy Award winner, known for his starring roles in American Beauty, The Usual Suspects and House Of Cards, appeared at the Old Bailey in July last year to deny the five previous charges.

He pleaded not guilty to four charges of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

The first two charges relate to alleged sexual assaults on a man, now in his 40s, in London on March 20, 2005.

The second alleged victim, a man now in his 30s, claims he was sexually assaulted by Spacey in London on August 31, 2008.

Spacey also faces a serious sexual offence charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent relating to the second alleged victim.

He faces a fourth charge of sexual assault against the third complainant, now in his 30s, in Gloucestershire in April 2013.

The two-time Academy Award winner, known for starring in American Beauty, The Usual Suspects and House Of Cards, appeared at the Old Bailey in July last year to deny the five previous charges (pictured in 2000 with his Oscar for Best Actor)

Speaking of Spacey's five initial charges, his defence barrister Patrick Gibbs, KC, said: 'Mr Spacey strenuously denies any and all criminality in this case.'

The actor has vowed to 'establish his innocence'.

Spacey has been granted unconditional bail and will face a four-week trial on all charges on June 6. A pre-trial review is due to take place on April 5.

In October last year, the actor, who was artistic director at The Old Vic between 2004 and 2015, won a civil lawsuit in the US where he was accused of an 'unwanted sexual advance' at a party in 1986.

In that lawsuit, Spacey 'categorically denied' the accusations and said he 'did not harbour any sexual interest or desire' at the time or since the alleged incident.

On October 20 last year, a jury found Spacey not liable, with the New York Court dismissing the sexual assault lawsuit against the actor.