Stars arrive to testify in high-profile Rush defamation trial

ONE of Australia’s biggest stars has told court she heard Geoffrey Rush’s career was “finished” after a newspaper article was published.

JUDY Davis says Geoffrey Rush had a “very serious heavyweight reputation” as an actor before a Sydney newspaper published articles about an allegation he behaved inappropriately toward a female co-star.

Following their publication, she’s heard people say the Oscar winner’s career is finished, the Federal Court in Sydney has heard.

The acclaimed actor was in the witness box at Rush’s defamation trial against The Daily Telegraph’s publisher, Nationwide News, and journalist Jonathon Moran, over two articles and a poster about the 67-year-old actor.

Robyn Nevin and Judy Davis enter court this morning. Picture: Dylan Robinson

They related to an allegation Rush behaved inappropriately toward a co-star — later revealed to be Eryn Jean Norvill — during a Sydney Theatre Company Theatre production of King Lear in 2015 and 2016.

Nationwide News and Moran are pleading a defence of truth and Norvill — who didn’t speak with the journalist before the articles were published — has agreed to give evidence.

Rush denies the claims against him and argues the articles portrayed him as a pervert and a sexual predator.

Judy Davis and actor Geoffrey Rush have starred together in several films, including Swimming Upstream.

Actor Judy Davis with Geoffrey Rush in a scene from the film Swimming Upstream.

During her brief time in the witness box on Monday, Davis said she’d loved working with Rush, who had a “very fine reputation” before the articles were published.

Actor Robyn Nevin is also expected to testify in the high-profile defamation trial today.

Davis and Nevin were photographed entering the court this morning.

Actor Robyn Nevin is expected to testify in the case today.

Geoffrey Rush at the Supreme Court in Sydney last week. Picture: Richard Dobson

The prosecution case is expected to finish on Monday with Davis and Nevin the final witnesses to give evidence.

Nationwide News will then open its case with actor Mark Winter and Norvill expected to testify.

The judge-alone trial continues.