Kevin Spacey formally charged with four sexual assaults ahead of UK court appearance this week

The Hollywood star is expected to deny the charges

Kevin Spacey will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday (Getty Images)

The actor Kevin Spacey has been formally charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men.

Spacey, 62, has also been charged by the Metropolitan Police with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.

The Oscar-winning actor, best known for his performances in the 1995 crime thriller The Usual Suspects and the 1999 drama American Beauty, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

It follows a review by the Crown Prosecution Service last month of evidence gathered by the Met in its investigation, which authorised the charging. But Spacey could only be charged once he had travelled to the UK. He was the artistic director of the Old Vic between 2004 and 2015.

The Met said the charges include two counts of sexual assault on a man who is now in his 40s, in March 2005 in London, one count of sexual assault on a man who is now in his 30s, in August 2008 in London, and causing him to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, and one count of sexual assault on a man, now aged in his 30s, in April 2013 in Gloucestershire.

The Hollywood star had previously said that he would travel to the UK to face the charges, which he is expected to deny.

In a statement released to Good Morning America after the CPS announcement, Spacey said: “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.”