Steve Martin Addresses Miriam Margolyes' 'Pejorative' Comments About Him
Steve Martin is breaking his silence on Miriam Margolyes' recent claims against him.
The Harry Potter actress, 82, accused him of being a nightmare to work with on set of 1986's Little Shop of Horrors, detailing her "vile" experience working with the comedian in her new memoir Oh Miriam. In it, she accused Martin, 78, of actually striking her during one of their scenes.
But the Only Murders in the Building actor has quite a different memory of their time working together.
"When I first read Miriam Margolyes’ pejorative account of our scene in 'Little Shop of Horrors,' I was surprised," he said in a statement obtained by Us Weekly on Friday, Sept. 15. "My memory is that we had a good communication as professional actors."
"But when it is implied that I harmed her or was in some way careless about doing the stunts, I have to object," Martin asserted, adding, "I remember taking EXTREME caution regarding the fake punch—the same caution I would use with any similar scene."
In her initial account, Margolyes recalled being "hit all day by doors opening in my face" and "repeatedly punched, slapped and knocked down" by Martin.
She later expanded on her side of the story, telling news.com.au, "I didn’t enjoy it and I had a splitting headache at the end of the day."
However, Martin insisted, "There was never any physical contact between her and me, accidental or otherwise, in this scene or any other we shot."
He further clarified, "Also on the set, keeping their eyes on the action, was the highly skilled and sensitive director, Frank Oz, a stunt coordinator, a camera crew, a script supervisor, as well as extras who witnessed the entire, very-well rehearsed scene."
While speaking to the Australian news site, Margolyes said Martin was "incredibly unfriendly because he was a perfectionist."
"I just thought he was rather horrid," she said, while bluntly adding, "He was a c--t, that’s all I can tell you."
However, despite her allegations against Martin, Margolyes did admit he was a "brilliant" and "gifted" comedic actor.
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