Rush ‘lives hermit life’

HOLLYWOOD star Geoffrey Rush said he has lived a “hermit-like existence” for the last year despite taking trips to London, Italy, Los Angeles and the Adelaide Festival.

“It’s not really a hermit-like existence, is it Mr Rush?” asked barrister Tom Blackburn, SC, during cross examination in the actor’s defamation trial against The Daily Telegraph.

“It was a hermit-like existence, generally, for that long period in time,” the 67-yearold actor said.

Mr Blackburn said: “Except for when you went to awards ceremonies and festivals?”

Mr Rush (pictured) is suing The Daily Telegraph after it reported an actor in King Lear

had lodged a complaint with the Sydney Theatre Company over his “inappropriate behaviour”. The actor was later named as Eryn Jean Norvill.

Since the articles were published Mr Rush said he and wife Jane Menelaus “were trapped into a reclusive” existence.

Under cross-examination Mr Rush told the court he had spent two weeks in Umbria, Italy, on holiday, eight days in London, a 48-hour round trip to Los Angeles and three days at the Adelaide Festival.

The Oscar winner denies any wrongdoing and claims two front-page articles in the newspaper about the alleged incident during the STC production painted him as a “pervert” and “sexual predator”.

Ms Norvill played Cordelia, the daughter of Mr Rush’s character King Lear, whose “lifeless” body he carried onto the stage.

Mr Rush denied intentionally groping her breast on stage during the last scene.

Mr Blackburn also said while Mr Rush and Ms Norvill was waiting in the wings Mr Rush gently stroked his hand above the line of Ms Norvill’s jeans until she very quietly said “please stop that”.

“I have no recollection of that happening at all,” he said.

The hearing continues.