Asia Argento, the Hollywood actress and "MeToo" activist accused of sexual assault on an underage boy, has privately admitted having sex with the fellow actor despite issuing a public denial.

Argento, 42, became a figurehead for the campaign against sexual harassment after she was one of the first women to accuse Harvey Weinstein, the movie mogul, of abuse last October.

She herself has been accused by former child actor Jimmy Bennett of sexual assault by having sex with him in 2013, when he was under the age of consent in California, which is 18.

Those allegations, which have sent shock waves through the "MeToo" movement, were first reported by the New York Times at the weekend.

It led to an initial furious denial from the Italian actress, who claimed she "never had any sexual relationship" with Bennett.