'Raping me was wrong he knows it' EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: RYAN PARRY

THE woman raped by film director Roman Polanski when she was 13 seemed in an amazingly forgiving mood when we met.

After asking Samantha Geimer, now 45, about the sex attack that had blighted her childhood, it soon became clear she was still haunted by what happened.

But at first the former model - assaulted by Polanski during a sick photoshoot - refused to criticise the famous director.

Instead she told me: "Looking back, there can be no question that he did something awful but I don't want to feel bad about it any more. It was a terrible thing to do to a young girl. But it was also many years ago.

"And, honestly, the publicity surrounding it was so traumatic that what he did to me seemed to pale in comparison. The sooner it all comes to an end the better."

I interviewed the former Miss Gailey in 2005 in Hawaii, where she lives with husband David and their three children.

The family seemed a picture of happiness and Samantha's tone was surprisingly relaxed.

It was only as I delved deeper into the circumstances surrounding that day in 1977 that cracks began to emerge. And it was clear that the little girl inside was still hurting.

She said: "What he did to me was wrong and he knows it was wrong, I'm still living with it today. He took sex from me and at the same time my innocence.

"I don't think for one moment it had occurred to him that someone would not want sex with him. He is a very arrogant, self-important, creepy old man."

Samantha shifted uncomfortably as she recalled how Polanski plied her with champagne and sedatives before raping her.

Despite the strong front, it was clear the experience had affected her deeply.

After the interview was published, Samantha thanked the Mirror for sending her copies of the photos.

"One is very nice," she said. "But I think that may be my last photoshoot so I'm holding on to it."

AUGUST 18, 1933: Born Raymond Polanski to Polish-Jewish parents. Spent his first three years in Paris before the family returned to Poland.

1940: When the Nazis sealed the Krakow Jewish ghetto his father shouted to Roman to run and he escaped. His mother died in Auschwitz.

1964: His first full-length feature film after graduation, Knife in the Water, wins an Oscar nomination and his ticket to the West. His reputation grows further with the film Repulsion.

1968: Directs Rosemary's Baby with Mia Farrow.

1969: His wife, the actress Sharon Tate, is brutally murdered by members of Charles Manson's cult. She was eight months pregnant with their first child.

1974: Major Hollywood success with stylish thriller Chinatown starring Jack Nicholson.

1977: Accused of rape. Admitted one charge of unlawful sexual intercourse, spent 42 days in prison for evaluation, released and flees before sentence.

1978: Settles in France, where he is protected by the nation's limited extradition with US.

1979: Reported to have started a relationship with actress Nastassja Kinski when she was 15. She appeared in his Oscarnominated film Tess.

1989: Marries French actress Emmanuelle Seigner. Living in Paris they have two children, daughter Morgane and son Elvis.

2003: Wins Oscar for The Pianist, collected by Harrison Ford.

2008: Polanski's lawyer in LA demands case is dismissed.

2009: Filming in Germany on The Ghost, loosely based on life of Tony Blair. Polanski's request to have hearing outside LA is denied unless he appears in court.

CAPTION(S):

TALK Ryan and Samantha VICTIM Sam at 13 ARREST Sex charge in 1977 60s CALIFORNIA With Tate