Gerard Depardieu is fed up with media pressure, his lawyer says, after the French actor failed to attend a court hearing in Paris.

PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 8, 2013) (REUTERS) - French actor Gerard Depardieu's lawyer said on Tuesday (January 8) that his client was fed up with media pressure after the high-profile actor's failure to appear before magistrates on drink driving charges.

"I am only dealing with Gerard Depardieu regarding this matter but on the phone, I have spoken with a very charming man these past few weeks. He does regret not attending (the morning's hearing) and has asked me to express his regrets to the vice-prosecutor Mahi. He is indeed fed up with the media pressure which is a burden to him, but he has been through many other things, and this won't change anything regarding the charges in question," he said.

Depardieu was detained for driving his scooter while drunk on November 29, a charge which could carry a maximum fine of 4,500 euros and a sentence of up to two years in prison.

De Caumont said that the French actor was currently in the Balkan countries for professional reasons and that he could not attend the hearing.

He added that Depardieu was signing a contract on Tuesday regarding a movie set to be filmed in New York this month and that no one knew when he would be returning to France.