A woman accusing French actor Gérard Depardieu of sexual assault has told a landmark trial in Paris that he groped her buttocks and her breasts several times on a film set.

Gérard Depardieu reigned over French cinema for half a century, a national icon as familiar as the baguette.

Renowned French actor Anouk Grinberg says the sexual assault trial against fellow actor Gérard Depardieu reflects the slow path toward awareness of sex abuse in France, especially in the film industry, after years of silence.