Miriam Margolyes says Steve Martin was rude and rude while filming LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS; Steve Martin responds

Steve Martin he’s one of those Hollywood actors that people generally like. He plays funny, wholesome characters and audiences are drawn to his kind demeanor, which is why a recent statement from an old co-star really upset fans. Actress Miriam Margolyesbest known for her roles in Romeo + Juliet and the Harry Potter film franchise, recently wrote a memoir titled, Oh Miriam! Stories of an extraordinary life.

In the book, the actress claimed that Steve Martin had been “horrible” to her on the set of Frank OzIt’s 1986 Little shop of horrors musical film (via HuffPo UK). Martin played the sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello, while Margolyes played his character’s assistant. They shared a musical number, “Dentist!”, in which her character slams a door in her face. Margolyes claims he actually did it.

She writes:

“During my only musical number (“Dentist!”) I was hit with doors opening in my face all day; repeatedly punched, slapped and knocked down by an unpleasant and unrepentant Steve Martin. Maybe he acted methodically – and [I] I came home grumpy with a splitting headache.

While Margolyes calls Martin “undeniably brilliant,” she adds, “but horrible to me… Let it not be said that I have never suffered in the name of Art.”

Martin released a statement to Variety on Friday afternoon, disputing Margolyes’ implication that he had physically harmed her, saying:

“When I first read Mariam Margolye’s pejorative account of our scene in ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ I was surprised. My memory is that we had good communication as professional actors. But when it is implied that I hurt her or was somehow negligent in doing the stunts, I have to object. I remember being EXTREMEly cautious about the fake punch, the same caution I would use with any similar scene. She assured me that she felt fine, we did a few successful shots and then stopped. There was never any physical contact between me and her, accidental or otherwise, in this scene or any other we shot.”

Martin’s representatives also provided a statement from director Frank Oz, which agreed with Martin’s account:

“I always try physical actions in slow motion. The scene was supposed to include a fake punch. It’s disconcerting what he’s talking about. That’s not the Steve I know or anyone knows. He has always been professional and respectful towards everyone in all my shoots.

This, on the contrary, is what Margolyes says Steve Buscemi he was a wonderful actor to work with in 1993 Ed and his dead mother. He said in the book:

“Steve Buscemi is a brilliant actor and we had a delightful relationship. For someone who was terrorized by me as a murderous living corpse, he was unfailingly sweet – he tore Steve Martin to pieces.

Margolyes has been open about working with rude actors in the past. During an interview on I have news for you podcast last year, she said she didn’t like working Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1999 supernatural action film End of days. He says Schwarzenegger farted in her face between takes. Margolyes said that Schwarzenegger did it “deliberately” and that he still hasn’t forgiven him. She explained:

“He’s a little too full of himself and I don’t care for him at all. He’s a Republican, which I don’t like. He was actually quite rude. He farted in my face. Now, I fart, of course, I do, but I don’t fart in people’s faces. He did it deliberately, right in your face.”

Schwarzenegger has never commented on the accusation. These are some pretty wild claims! I was surprised to hear what he said about Steve Martin, and his response, as well as that of the film’s director, made me wonder if it was just a misunderstanding. And what about Schwarzenegger farting in her face?! I don’t know…pretty gross though!