A KING LEAR co-star sent a text message to actress Eryn Jean Norvill as soon as she heard news reports about anonymous allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by Geoffrey Rush.
Robyn Nevin, who played The Fool in the Sydney Theatre Company production, said: “Oh dear girl, are you okay? … it’s nasty, I hope you are protected, I’m sure you will be.”
Mr Rush, 67, is suing The Daily Telegraph over a series of articles late in 2017 which reported that a young actress had lodged a sexual harassment complaint against him.
The actress was later named as Eryn Jean Norvill, who played Mr Rush’s daughter Cordelia in the production.
MORE NEWS:
Journey home to ‘normal’ can be the toughest battle
Drugs base crime scene after car lot blaze
Matty Johns poised to quit Triple M’s The Grill Team
In a pre-trial hearing, the court was told that Ms Norvill would give evidence that Mr Rush ran his hand “down her torso and traced across her right breast” on stage.
Ms Nevin told The Federal Court she could not recall exactly when she heard that it was Ms Norvill who had made the allegations. Even though Ms Norvill was not named in the articles Ms Nevin said she texted the actress the day after the first story was published.
Ms Nevin later went to visit her good friends Mr Rush and his wife Jane Menelaus at their home, but denied ever reproaching Ms Norvill.
“I didn’t question Ms Norvill, the damage was done,” Ms Nevin said, during sometimes tearful and emotional testimony.
“My concern for Geoffrey was paramount but I also had compassion and concern for the girl because both of their lives have been damaged by it. I believe she needed help and support.”
Ms Nevin confirmed she and Ms Norvill had appeared in another production at the STC together when the younger actress confided in her: “being back here reminds me of the stuff, trouble with Geoffrey”.
The newspaper’s barrister Tom Blackburn, SC, asked her if she said to Ms Norvill: “Oh, I thought Geoffrey had stopped doing that. Poor Jane.” Ms Nevin vehemently denied saying that.
She said her anger was confined to the Sydney Theatre Company for the way it handled the issue.
Earlier Australian acting legend Judy Davis told the court that her colleagues in theatrical circles said after the allegations against Mr Rush were revealed that: “his career is finished”.
The Oscar winner denies any wrongdoing and claims two front page articles in the newspaper about the alleged incident painted him as a “pervert” and “sexual predator”.
The newspaper argues the stories published on November 30 and December 1 last year draw on allegations made by Ms Norvill and are true.
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Co-star sent text to actress after Geoffrey Rush allegations"
Post a Comment