'I felt I had been ambushed': Geoffrey Rush appears at defamation hearing
Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush is suing Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph and a journalist for defamation following reports he acted inappropriately towards female co-star Eryn Jean Norvill.
His lawyer says Rush is now considered “damaged goods,” enduring what the actor has called “the worst 11 months” of his life following two articles published in November last year.
The stories were based on Rush’s alleged behaviour during the Sydney Theatre’s Company 2015-2016 production of King Lear, with claims he acted inappropriately towards co-star Eryn Jean Norvill while on stage.
Rush was only given a few hours to respond to entertainment reporter Jonathan Moran, before the first article went to print.
“I felt as though someone had poured lead into my head,” Rush told the court.
“I felt I had been ambushed. I was in free fall… It’s been the worst 11 months of my life.”
The actor’s lawyer on Monday accused the journalist of being desperate for a Harvey Weinstein-style story after his paper had been “gazumped” by the Sydney Morning Herald’s expose on Don Burke.
His lawyer, Bruce McClintock, described Rush as “a national living treasure.”
“His reputation was stellar, it could not have been higher,” he said.
“This newspaper set out to deliberately destroy my client with lies,” Mr McClintock said.
The court heard in the five months to November last year Geoffrey Rush made $1.5 million, compared with just $44,000 between November and last week, because he’s now considered “damaged goods”.
If Rush is successful, he could receive a payout worth millions.
He will continue giving evidence on Tuesday.
