Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey is facing sexual assault charges in the UK, police and prosecutors said on Thursday, after a review of allegations against him.

The two-time Oscar winner for "The Usual Suspects" and "American Beauty" was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre in London between 2004 and 2015.

Allegations against him first emerged in the wake of the #MeToo movement that saw numerous claims of sexual assault and harassment in the movie industry.

That prompted an investigation by London's Metropolitan Police, and a review by The Old Vic of the 62-year-old Spacey's time in charge there.

Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement that it had "authorised criminal charges" against the actor "for four counts of sexual assault against three men".

"He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent," said Rosemary Ainslie, who heads the service's special crime division. "The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation."

British media said it was understood Spacey had not been formally charged in the UK because he was not in the country, and there was no immediate word if he would have to be extradited. (AFP)