Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush has taken to the stand in his defamation case against the publishers of the Daily Telegraph and one of its journalists.

He’s told a court he felt sick to his stomach when he saw the front page of the newspaper story alleging he’d acted inappropriately towards co-star Eryn-Jean Norvill.

His barrister Bruce McClintock, SC has told the court Mr Rush’s earnings have gone from $1.5 million last financial year to just $44,000 since the article was published.

Macquarie Radio court reporter Gil Taylor tells Ross Greenwood Mr Rush “certainly wanted to get his point across” on how much “hurt he suffered in relation to the articles”.

“Articles that spoke about inappropriate behaviour and scandalous behaviour during a run of King Lear in late 2015.

Mr McClintock told the court the newspaper was looking for another “Weinstein story”.

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Image: Sydney Theatre Company