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Within the private confines of the residence of actor Alain Delon in Douchy-Montcorbon (Loiret), a fresh chapter of controversy unfurls. Hiromi Rollin, the subject of two complaints by Delon’s offspring for purported psychological harassment, among other things, broke her silence this Friday through her attorney. Counsel Yassine Bouzrou conveyed via SMS to AFP that a complaint has been lodged on behalf of his client, in addition to a request for the initiation of a judicial investigation.
Ms. Rollin, viewed by the actor’s family as his “lady-in-waiting,” was introduced by Delon himself as his “Japanese companion” during a 2021 interview on TV5 Monde. However, the children’s legal representative, Counsel Christophe Ayela, articulated that Ms. Rollin “continually endeavors to isolate Alain Delon from his intimate circle, friends, and kin, employing tactics and threats” following the actor’s cerebrovascular accident in 2019.
Intriguingly, in the TV5 Monde documentary, Delon, the esteemed stalwart of cinema, extolled the continuous presence of Ms. Rollin during his recuperation. She was seen alongside him at the funeral of Jean-Paul Belmondo in September 2021 and more recently in May at the premiere of a film by his son Alain-Fabien.
Jean-Pierre Lécluse, a former projectionist in Montargis, narrates how his habitual visits to Alain Delon’s residence to screen films at the actor’s behest abruptly ceased three or four months ago. According to his account, Ms. Rollin denied him entry, despite his certainty of the actor’s presence inside.
According to Le Parisien, Ms. Rollin, who served as an assistant director in several of Alain Delon’s films in the 1980’s and 1990’s, was forcibly evicted from the sprawling domicile of Douchy-Montcorbon on Wednesday. Her lawyer, Counsel Bouzrou, proclaimed that his client intended to sue “members of the Delon family and bodyguards for aggravated willful violence (…) corroborated by a medical certificate.”
In two separate complaints, Delon’s three offspring, Anthony, Anouchka, and Alain-Fabien, decried the “disparaging and aggressive attitude” of Ms. Rollin toward their father, as well as her attempts to divert the octogenarian’s communications. The prosecution confirmed that Mr. Delon endorsed these accusations “by a signed statement attached to the complaint.”
A second complaint was lodged in Paris on Monday by Delon’s eldest son, Anthony, concerning violence against a vulnerable individual and abuse of weakness.
Renowned for his memorable roles in films such as The Leopard, Purple Noon, and Le Samouraï, Alain Delon gradually retreated from the limelight in the late 1990’s. Controversies related to his support for capital punishment and comments on homosexuality, which he described as “unnatural,” tarnished the image of this actor with an exceptional filmography. In May 2019, he was honored at the Cannes Film Festival where he received a Lifetime Achievement Palme d’Or, an event shortly preceding his stroke.
From his inaugural screen appearances, Delon captivated attention with his serene charisma and near-angelic beauty. Paradoxically, Delon excelled in roles of ambiguous, troubled, or downright malicious characters, perhaps reflecting his personal contradictions.
With an impressive and diverse filmography, the icy-blue-eyed actor also shone in international productions, working with renowned directors such as Luchino Visconti on The Leopard. His roles in period films like this, where he portrayed the charming but cynical Prince Tancredi Falconeri, solidified his reputation as a premier actor, capable of complex and nuanced performances.
Nonetheless, despite these controversies, the public’s fascination with Delon remains undimmed. His withdrawal from public life only fueled anticipation and curiosity, and his appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 to receive the Lifetime Achievement Palme d’Or was a poignant moment for many. With an emotive and nostalgic speech, Delon expressed his gratitude towards cinema, a universe that secured his place among the greats.
Undoubtedly, Alain Delon is an enigma. The ongoing family saga, with Hiromi Rollin at the core of the legal maelstrom, adds an additional layer of complexity to the prevailing mystery that shrouds this man.
With AFP
