by Eva Green suggested she pretend to be in hospital if she were called upon to shoot a multi-million pound sci-fi film that was abandoned, the High Court was told.
Additional messages from the Casino Royale actress were recently disclosed as part of her legal battle with production company White Lantern Film over her planned starring role in dystopian thriller A Patriot.
The 42-year-old is suing the production company after the film was dropped in October 2019, claiming she was entitled to her share of one million dollars (£810,000) for the project despite its cancellation under the terms of their agreement.
White Lantern Film and lender SMC Specialty Finance are filing a counterclaim against Ms Green, claiming she undermined production of the independent film and walked out of the contract.
Max Mallin KC, for White Lantern, said that Green displayed an “unambiguous and categorical refusal to perform.”
On Tuesday, she said she “was so worried about what would happen if she were specifically called on to act” that she had suggested to her agent Charles Collier that she “make up a story about hospitalized Ms. Green” in one of the recently shared messages.
The court was told Ms Green’s message in September 2019 read: ‘If they come back to you and say they will go ahead with the film, what can we say…?
“Could we say that this situation made me feel bad over the weekend? Could we say that I had to go to the hospital because I had a severe rash all over my body?
Ms Green then asked her agent if a doctor would potentially help, the court was told.
In written submissions, Mr Mallin added that Ms Green also “seemed to be contemplating faking a broken arm” to avoid performing.
The solicitor said it was not up to Ms Green whether or not she was called in to stare, adding: not.”
He added that if Ms Green had been brought in to act she “wouldn’t have made the film”.
Mr Mallin added in written submissions that most of Ms Green’s evidence was “unconvincing and sometimes appeared to be substantiated”.
Edmund Cullen KC, for Ms Green, said the actress was subjected to “character assassination,” adding that it was “based on some of the cheapest, nastiest stereotypes out there.”
He said the actress had been described as overdemanding and losing touch.
“These kinds of lies are very harmful and need to be stopped,” Cullen said.
The attorney later claimed that White Lantern was “spewing” allegations that Ms. Green had broken her contract, none of which were true.
He added, “Ms. Green was extremely eager to provide her acting services to White Lantern for this film.”
Mr Cullen said Ms Green had not waived the contract and that witnesses from White Lantern and the Lender “came here to deceive the court”.
He said in written arguments: “The higher it goes is that Ms. Green said, as she readily admitted, that working with [executive producer] Mr Seal ‘in control’ would be ‘impossible’.
“However, this is, of course, a far cry from a statement of refusal to perform [the contract].”
The attorney added that Ms Green was never given the opportunity to perform or not as she was never called.
The court had previously heard that the actress had described potential crew members as “shit farmers”, the production as a “shit B movie” and executive producer Jake Seal as “pure vomit”.
In the further messages, Green is also said to have described Mr. Seal as a “sociopath” and “a real mad dictator who wants to prove himself right so he’s ready for anything.”
Ms Green, who testified in London’s High Court for two days in January, said it was “humiliating” that her messages were being used in court.
Mr Cullen said he found the experience of testifying “difficult” and “very demanding” but that he had done his best to assist the court and that the new messages “make no difference” to the facts of the case.
Judge Michael Green is expected to give his decision in writing at a later date.
