At 78, Steve Martin Speaks Out On Miriam Margolyes' Surprising Allegations Against Him With 4 Strong Words

Sep 20, 2023 by apost team

Steve Martin is a multi-talented entertainer. Performing as a comedian, actor, musician, writer, and producer, he has held sway in the industry for decades and given his audience much to laugh about or simply enjoy. He rose to prominence in the late '60s when he won a Primetime Emmy award for writing for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” He was also a frequent host on “Saturday Night Live,” and his stand-up comedy routines were usually well-received by a favorable audience while he was on tour in the '70s. 

Martin crossed into acting in the '80s, where he found great success starring in movies like “The Jerk” and “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” while some of his most famous movies include “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Parenthood,” “The Father of the Bride” franchise and “Cheaper by the Dozen” franchise. In 1986, he co-starred with Miriam Margolyes in the musical horror film, “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Margolyes is a British-Australian actress who is famous for being a character actress. She is a queen of both the theater and the silver screen and debuted in the British comedy film “A Nice Girl Like Me.” She is notable for calling out her co-stars and explaining what she doesn’t like about each one. For instance, she called out Arnold Schwarzenegger for farting in her face while they were filming the 1999 action movie “End of Days” and concluded that he was full of himself. She also slammed John Cleese and claimed that Martin was unpleasant to her on the set while filming “Little Shop of Horrors.” However, the actor denied the claims and provided a different perspective. Keep reading to know what Martin said. 

Margolyes’ memoir “Oh Miriam: Stories from an Extraordinary Life,” which was released on Sept. 12, 2023, detailed a shocking revelation that Martin was “horrid” to her on set and that she was “uncomfortable” while working with him. She also suggested that he hit her on set. 

Per the Independent, Margolyes wrote in her memoir: 

“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.”

She added, “Let it not be said that I have never suffered in the name of art.”

However, Margolyes praised her former co-star Steve Buscemi and wrote that the actor “was unerringly sweet” and “knocked spots off Steve Martin.”

Per Fox News Digital, she also shared similar sentiments about Martin during an interview with Australian outlet News.com.au while promoting her memoir.

“Steve was and is brilliant, this is not about his talent, just about his kindness at that time in his life,” she said.

She recounted how filming the famous “Dentist!” musical number required several takes because Martin was all about perfection. “I didn’t enjoy it and I had a splitting headache at the end of the day,” she shared.

“He (Martin) was incredibly unfriendly, because he was a perfectionist. 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,” Margolyes opined.

She added: “I would have included the person I was working with. He wasn’t interested in that,” and concluded: “I just thought he was rather horrid. He was a c—, that’s all I can tell you.”

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Martin responded to his costar’s allegations shortly after her book dropped and was perplexed because he held a different view of their work relationship. The renowned actor gave a statement published on Sept. 16, 2023, to Fox News Digital and wrote:

“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." He continued, punctuating his message with four powerful words, "But when it is implied that I harmed her or was in some way careless about doing the stunts, I have to object.”

He continued: “I remember taking EXTREME caution regarding the fake punch – the same caution I would use with any similar scene. She assured me she felt fine, and we did a few successful takes and stopped.”

“There was never any physical contact between her and me, accidental or otherwise, in this scene or any other we shot,” he added. 

“Also on the set, keeping their eyes on the action, was the highly skilled and sensitive director, Frank Oz, a stunt coordinator, a camera crew, a script supervisor, as well as extras who witnessed the entire, very-well rehearsed scene,” Martin revealed. 

“Little Shop of Horrors" director Frank Oz also weighed in on the matter. Martin’s reps provided the statement that corroborated Martin’s views to Variety.

“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 shared.

What do you think of Miriam Margolyes’ claims? What do you make of Steve Martin and Frank Oz’s rebuttals? Did you watch “Little Shop of Horrors? Let us know, and pass this on to fans of the 1986 musical horror.