Steve Martin has rejected former co-star Miriam Margolyes' claim that he "repeatedly punched and slapped" her while on set.
The 82-year-old actress - best known for her iconic roles in movies such as The Age of Innocence, James and the Giant Peach, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - opened up about her new memoir, Oh Miriam! Stories from an Extraordinary Life, during an interview with News.com.au.
While speaking about wild moments from her six-decades-long showbiz career, Margolyes revealed that she was unimpressed by Primetime Emmy Award winner Steve Martin when the pair worked on the 1986 film, Little Shop of Horrors.
In the movie, Martin played Orin Scrivello, a sadistic dentist, while the British-Australian actress portrayed his dental receptionist.
The Babe actress revealed to the publication that the Only Murders in the Building actor "was and is brilliant," however, "this is not about his talent, just about his kindness at that time in his life".
"I didn’t enjoy it and I had a splitting headache at the end of the day," she continued. "He [Martin] was incredibly unfriendly because he was a perfectionist," adding: "He was an artist and all he was interested in was getting the comic moment right, and he was correct to do that, but he should have included me."
"I would have included the person I was working with. He wasn’t interested in that," she said before branding the filming experience as "vile" while also referring to Matin as "rather horrid" and a "c**t".
According to The Independent, the Harry Potter actress recalled more of the incident in her new memoir, alleging that she was "hit all day by doors opening in my face; repeatedly punched, slapped, and knocked down" by an "unlovely and unapologetic Steve Martin".
The Pink Panther star has now taken objection to his co-star's recent allegation that he actually assaulted her when they filmed their scenes together in the 1986 musical. He maintained that he made a point of being very careful not to hurt her or anyone else while trying to throw the fake punch.
"My memory is that we had good communication as professional actors," the statement obtained by PEOPLE 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."
Martin claimed that Margolyes told him she was fine after filming, alleging that director Frank Oz and others were on the set to make sure nothing went wrong. "There was never any physical contact between her and me, accidental or otherwise, in this scene or any other we shot," he concluded.
Director Oz seemed to come to the Three Amigos actor's defense and corroborate his account of that scene in his own statement, penning: "I always rehearse physical actions in slow motion. 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," he added.
Despite the accusations, Margoyles did have some kind words for the comedian, calling him very "gifted" and saying their scene in the finished film was "very good".
Oh Miriam! - Stories from an Extraordinary Life is out now.
