Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts, known for roles in major films and the upcoming DC Supergirl movie, has been handed a six-month prison sentence by a court in Belgium for a series of driving violations.
A Pattern of Driving Offences
The 46-year-old star was sentenced in absentia after failing to appear in court, as confirmed by Deadline. According to reports from the Belgian news agency Belga, police stopped Schoenaerts twice in April 2024 while he was riding a motorcycle without a valid driving licence.
This latest conviction adds to a long history of traffic-related issues for the actor. His licence was originally revoked in 2021 following an allegation of driving under the influence. The court heard that Schoenaerts has now been convicted of driving offences 11 times in the past.
Court Ruling and Unlikely Jail Time
Alongside the six-month custodial sentence, the court imposed a €4,000 fine (approximately $4,670) and a new one-year driving ban. Before he can legally drive again, Schoenaerts must pass theoretical and practical driving tests, as well as undergo medical and psychological assessments.
However, court spokesperson Luc De Cleir indicated to Belga that the chances of the actor actually serving jail time are almost nonexistent. He stated that when previous measures fail, "a strict signal is necessary to protect society and prevent recidivism." Schoenaerts retains the right to file an opposition and appeal the ruling.
Recent Incident and Career Impact
This may not be the end of the actor's legal troubles. It separately emerged that he was stopped by police on 21 November, where he reportedly refused a breathalyser test and behaved aggressively when his vehicle was towed.
Despite these personal setbacks, Schoenaerts remains a busy actor on the international stage. The son of Flemish actor Julien Schoenaerts, he first gained acclaim in the Oscar-nominated 2011 film Bullhead. He has since starred alongside A-list actors like Kate Winslet and Tom Hardy.
His upcoming projects are significant. He is set to play the main villain, Krem of the Yellow Hills, in DC's Supergirl film starring Milly Alcock, scheduled for release next year. He also has roles in Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Changer l'eau des fleurs and Terrence Malick's The Way of the Wind.
