An actor has told court he saw Geoffrey Rush make a "boob-squeezing gesture" over Eryn Jean Norvill as she lay on the floor during a rehearsal for the Sydney Theatre Company's production of King Lear.
Mark Leonard Winter also saw the star cup Norvill's breast for about five seconds during a scene in which her character had died, the Federal Court in Sydney heard on Thursday.
Winter was in the witness box as Rush sues Daily Telegraph publisher Nationwide News and journalist Jonathon Moran for defamation over articles last year which claimed he behaved inappropriately toward a co-star, later revealed to be Norvill.
Rush, 67, denies the claims and argues the newspaper portrayed him as a pervert and sexual predator.
Nationwide News is pleading a defence of truth after Norvill - who didn't speak with the journalist for the articles - agreed in July to give evidence.
Winter, who played Edgar in the 2015-16 production, said he had a vague recollection of Rush doing a Three Stooges-like skit over Norvill and making a "jokey gesture ... a boob-squeezing gesture" during rehearsal.
"I know that people laughed ... I was talking to somebody at the time so I sort of tuned in late," he said.
Winter, 35, also told the court that during a performance he saw "Geoffrey's hand cupping around the bottom of EJ's breast, which was something that I hadn't seen before on stage".
The touch was long enough for Winter to have "a series of thoughts that took me outside the action of the play," and he estimated it would have lasted about five seconds.
Winter said he recalled Rush cupped Norvill's left breast, whereas Norvill in her earlier evidence said she'd been touched on her right breast.
When Rush's lawyer, Bruce McClintock SC, put it to Winter that audience members must have seen the alleged breast cupping, he said: "I can't speak for the audience, I can only speak for myself."
Winter agreed he was friends with Norvill and spoke with her lawyers in preparing his evidence.
He denied Mr McClintock's suggestions that neither the alleged breast cupping or "boob-squeezing" gesture actually happened.
"I can say unequivocally that his hand touched her breast," he said.
Veteran actors Helen Buday and Robyn Nevin, who were also in King Lear, have both testified they didn't see Rush make lewd gestures in Norvill's direction or comments about her body during rehearsals.
Winter agreed "to a point" that neither actor had problems speaking out during the production, saying "in general, that is their essence".
He agreed he'd told Rush's solicitor the Oscar winner had led the company well and taken on his role with great enthusiasm.
"I would say he was an exemplary company leader," Winter said.
When asked if he had sufficient respect for Rush, Winter said: "Of course."
"I mean, there's also a tendency in this to paint people as black and white ... people aren't just black and white, and Geoffrey Rush is a respected figure and a friend," he said.
Later, Rush's Hollywood agent, Fred Specktor, said the actor had been "damaged as a human being by this garbage in the newspaper" and he was concerned about his client's ability to work again.
The judge-alone trial continues.
Australian Associated Press