Stars take the stand in defamation case

Actors Robyn Nevin and Judy Davis took the stand today in the Geoffrey Rush defamation trial, amid speculation of whether a settlement may be reached.

The case had an unexpected adjournment today after Rush’s team concluded their witnesses but is due to resume tomorrow.

Nevin, who had appeared in the Sydney Theatre Company’s King Lear, denied seeing Rush act inappropriately during the play, but revealed to the court that following the production she had a conversation with actress Eryn Jean Norvill in which she tearfully spoke about her experiences.

“She was tearful, I said what’s the matter [and] she said being back here reminds me of the stuff, the trouble with Geoffrey,” Nevin said.

“Which I took to be the trouble she was having with Cordelia, the struggles, she was very unhappy in the role.”

She flatly denied that Norvill mentioned “anything sexual” in the conversation.

When the Daily Telegraph’s counsel, Tom Blackburn, SC pressed her, Nevin became angry and said in raised voice: “She most definitely did not and you are putting words into my mouth. It’s appalling.

Ms Nevin: “I just told you … there was no allegation of sexual or anything sexual.”

Mr Blackburn: “I put it to you that you said: ‘I thought Geoffrey has stopped doing that. Poor Jane”.’ (wife, Jane Menelaus)

Ms Nevin: “I deny that.”

Mr Blackburn: “You might have said that?”

Again she emphatically denied, with Justice Michael Wigney intervened: “I think she has denied it Mr Blackburn – in very strong terms.”

Judy Davis also appeared as a character witness for Rush.

She said Rush had “a fine reputation” and a “really serious heavyweight reputation as an actor”.

“He has a tremendous track record internationally; a tremendous record of achievement,” Davis said.

Asked if she had heard anybody talking about the articles, Davis said she did not like gossiping and tended not to move in theatrical circles but she had spoken to “a couple of people”.

“Well they’ve said, really, that his career is finished,” Davis said.

Source: The Guardian, Australian Financial Review