Miriam Margoyles has become something of a chat show favourite with her startlingly frank stories about those she has worked with in her long and illustrious career and in her recent memoir ‘Oh Miriam! Stories From an Extraordinary Life’ she makes a claim against Steve Martin of all people that she was struck by him when filming the musical film ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ in Steve Martin v Miriam Margoyles allegation
In her book she claims, ‘“I was hit all day by doors opening in my face; repeatedly punched, slapped and knocked down by an unlovely and unapologetic Steve Martin — perhaps he was Method acting — and came home grumpy with a splitting headache,” and adding, ‘“undeniably brilliant but horrid to me.”
It’s a claim that has surprised many who have worked with him over the years and found him to be affable and professional. Margoyles claim is one that Martin vehemently denies issuing a statement that said, ‘“When I first read Miriam Margolyes pejorative account of our scene in Little Shop of Horrors, I was surprised. My memory is that we had a good communication as professional actors,” Martin’s statement read. “But when it is implied that I harmed her or was in some way careless about doing the stunts, I have to object. I remember taking EXTREME caution regarding the fake punch — the same caution I would use with any similar scene.” adding, ‘“There was never any physical contact between her and me, accidental or otherwise, in this scene or any other we shot,”.
Even the films director Frank Oz has come to Martin’s defence saying, ‘I always rehearse physical actions in slow motion,” Oz said in his own statement. “The scene was supposed to include a fake punch. It’s puzzling what she’s talking about. It’s not the Steve I know or anyone knows. He’s always been professional and respectful of everyone on all of my shoots.”
Whether we will see a Steve Martin v Miriam Margoyles court case is unknown
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