Liam Neeson Among Actors Campaigning For Kevin Spacey's Return To Acting

Liam Neeson leads a list of actors who are campaigning for Kevin Spacey to return to acting: "after seven years in exile".

Spacey an Oscar winner, has not been seen on mainstream screens since allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him in 2017. Following these allegations, streaming giants Netflix cut all ties with him.

At the time, Spacey was starring in the Netflix series, House of Cards. Spacey was subsequently sacked from the production when these allegations were made public. 

Last year, Kevin Spacey was acquitted of several sexual offences following a trial in London. He also won a US civil lawsuit where he was accused of making unwanted sexual advances.

However, despite being exonerated in court, Kevin Spacey claims that he still feels exiled by the industry. He said in an interview that he was a victim of a "rush to judgement" in light of the #MeToo Movement against disgraced director Harvey Weinstein. 

"our industry needs him"

In statements shared to The Telegraph newspaper, several actors have backed Spacey, in light of the recent documentary Spacey Unmasked, which includes new allegations from men, which Spacey has denied. 

"Kevin is a good man and a man of character. Personally speaking, our industry needs him and misses him greatly", Liam Neeson said. 

Sharon Stone renowned for films, Basic Instinct and Casino, has also called on Spacey to be reinstated, "I can't wait to see Kevin back at work. He is a genius. He is so elegant and fun, generous to a fault and knows more about our craft than most of us ever will". 

She also added that it was also clear that young actors, "wanted and want to be around him". 

 "It’s terrible that they are blaming him for not being able to come to terms with themselves for using him and negotiating with themselves because they didn’t get their secret agendas. 

"clumsy and inappropriate" 

Other household names to show their support for Kevin Spacey is actor and writer Stephen Fry.

While conceding that the actor had been both "clumsy and inappropriate", on many occasions, Fry slammed the documentary for its decision to "devote a whole documentary to accusations that simply do not add up to crimes… how can that be considered proportionate and justified?".

Adding that the actor's reputation has been "wrecked", Fry also said: "Surely it is wrong to continue to batter a reputation on the strength of assertion and rhetoric rather than evidence and proof? Unless I’m missing something, I think he has paid the price". 

Elsewhere, Oscar winner F Murray Abraham also defended Spacey: "I vouch for him unequivocally. Who are these vultures who attack a man who has publicly accepted his responsibility for certain behaviour, unlike so many others?". 

Trevor Nunn a former artistic director who worked with Spacey in two productions at The Old Vic in London, claimed that the actor should benefit from the UK law finding him innocent of these alleged crimes.

Calling him a "an actor of genius, on stage and on screen", Nunn said: "In light of the court’s verdict, surely it is time for this man to be forgiven for whatever poor judgments he may have made in the past and allowed to resume his career, after seven years of exile?". 

Kevin Spacey has won two Oscars in his career, the first coming in 1996 for best supporting actor for The Usual Suspects, before winning best actor in 2000 for American Beauty. He also won a Bafta for leading actor for the same movie.