Alleged Rushian meddling

A court has heard that Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush was told to stop touching a co-star “inappropriately” during a production of “King Lear” — but continued to do so anyway. The “King’s Speech” actor is suing the Sydney Daily Telegraph for defamation after it reported that Rush touched Eryn Jean Norvill in a way that made her uncomfortable during the six-week production in 2015 and 2016. Rush vehemently denies the allegation. In Australian Federal Court on Monday, the paper’s attorney said Rush’s alleged behavior was “scandalous and inappropriate.” Rush’s lawyer said the paper’s accusations were vague and weak, particularly with regard to the definition of “inappropriate.” In the final scene of the play, Rush, as Lear, carries his deceased daughter Cordelia — played by Norvill — onstage. According to the paper’s court filings, Norvill claims Rush touched her inappropriately during the scene, and she asked him to stop. She allegedly complained to the Sydney Theatre Company after, she claims, he continued. The actor also allegedly followed Norvill into the bathroom at a party on the final night of the run and stood outside her stall until she told him to “f - - k off.” Rush claims the paper engaged in “hyperbole, lies and spurious claims.” The court has lifted a gag order on the paper’s defense document, rejecting an application by Rush’s lawyer Richard McHugh to stop the details being made public.