The French actress Isabelle Adjani has defended herself against allegations of tax evasion by saying she has no interest in money, unlike American film stars, reports The Times.
Adjani, 68, made the claim in the French media before the start of her trial at the Paris criminal court, which she missed after being struck down by an “acute illness”, according to her lawyers.
They told the court she had been unable to fly from New York and asked for an adjournment. Their request was dismissed with the court ruling that the case should go ahead in the absence of Adjani, who is preparing to return to the limelight next month.
Adjani, who is known for her roles in films such as La Reine Margot and Camille Claudel, is accused of passing off a gift of €2 million as a loan to avoid paying 60 per cent of the sum in tax, the court was told.
She received the money in 2013 from Mamadou Diagna Ndiaye, head of the Senegalese Olympic Committee, who is also godfather to Gabriel-Kane Day-Lewis, the son Adjani had with Sir Daniel Day-Lewis, the British actor.