Miriam Margolyes Claims Steve Martin Was Rude and Rough With Her Shooting LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS; Steve Martin Responds

Steve Martin is one of those Hollywood actors that people just generally enjoy. He plays funny and wholesome characters and audiences are drawn to his kind demeanor, which is why a recent claim from an old co-star really threw fans for a loop. Actress Miriam Margolyes, best known for her roles in Romeo + Juliet and the Harry Potter film franchise, recently wrote a memoir titled, Oh Miriam! Stories from an Extraordinary Life.

In the book, the actress alleged that Steve Martin was “horrid” to her on the set of Frank Oz’s 1986 Little Shop of Horrors movie musical (via HuffPo UK). Martin played the sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello, while Margolyes starred as his character’s assistant. They shared a musical number, “Dentist!,” in which his character slams a door in her face. Margolyes claims he did so for real.

She writes:

“During my only musical number (‘Dentist!’) 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 [I] came home grumpy with a splitting headache.”

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

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

“When I first read Mariam 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.  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. 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.”

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

“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.”

On the contrary, Margolyes says that Steve Buscemi was a wonderful actor to work with on 1993’s Ed And His Dead Mother. She said in the book:

“Steve Buscemi is a brilliant actor and we had a delightful rapport. For somebody who’s being terrorized by me in the form of a murderous living corpse, he was unerringly sweet – knocked spots off Steve Martin.”

Margolyes has been vocal in the past about working with rude actors. During an interview on the I’ve Got News For You podcast last year, she said she disliked working with Arnold Schwarzenegger on the 1999 supernatural action movie End of Days. She says that Schwarzenegger farted on her face in between filming takes. Margolyes said Schwarzenegger “deliberately” did it and she still hasn’t forgiven him. She explained:

“He’s a bit 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 my face.”

Schwarzenegger never commented on the allegation. These are pretty wild claims! I was surprised to hear what she said about Steve Martin, and to have his response, plus that of the film’s director makes me wonder if it was just a misunderstanding. As for Schwarzenegger farting in her face?! I don’t know… pretty gross though!