Arnold Schwarzenegger's Co-Star Feud: 'I Haven't Forgiven Him'
An on-set story about Arnold Schwarzenegger has resurfaced, but it's not one of praise. His co-star from a '90s blockbuster reveals shocking details about his behavior during filming, a feud that has lasted for decades and includes some truly bizarre accusations.
When you reach the level of fame Arnold Schwarzenegger has, you can pretty much pick and choose who you work with. His list of collaborators is as impressive as his physique. You could point to almost any major Hollywood actor, and they'd likely have a story about working with the former Mr. Universe. However, one name you wouldn't typically link with the action star is Miriam Margolyes.
The outspoken actress shared the screen with Schwarzenegger in End of Days, a wild supernatural thriller from a high point in his career. In the film, Schwarzenegger portrays a New York detective who finds himself in a battle against demonic forces trying to bring about the Antichrist. Margolyes plays a sinister caregiver raising the woman destined to be Satan's bride, leading to a truly strange fight scene between the two actors.
A Bizarre On-Set Incident
For most actors, working with a star of Schwarzenegger's stature would be a career highlight. That wasn't the case for Miriam. Never one to hold back, she has called out the former California governor on multiple occasions, most notably in a 2022 interview on the I’ve Got News For You podcast.
“He was actually quite rude,” she claimed. “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. I was playing Satan’s sister, and he was killing me, so he had me in a position where I couldn’t escape and was lying on the floor. And he just farted. It wasn’t on film, it was in one of the pauses, but I haven’t forgiven him for it.”
More Serious Allegations
Margolyes' claims didn't stop with just flatulence. She also asserted that Schwarzenegger was “awfully gropey with women” on the set, suggesting he only left her alone because he “didn’t fancy me”. When various news outlets tried to get a comment from Schwarzenegger's team, they were met with silence. He has remained completely absent from this one-sided dispute, perhaps figuring that a public argument with an elderly British actress known for her colorful language wasn't the best use of his time.
A Career Turning Point?
If Schwarzenegger was truly the “pig of a man” Margolyes described during that time, some might say karma eventually came calling. End of Days is widely considered one of the weakest films of his career based on audience reactions. It was part of a series of action movie duds around that period that made critics wonder if the king of the genre had lost his Midas touch. He was also making some questionable business moves, reportedly passing on blockbusters like The Rock to make films like this and the forgettable Collateral Damage.
The idea that Arnie's career took a dive because he was rude to a co-star seems a bit of a stretch, but it's no more outlandish than the plot of the movie where the incident supposedly happened. The film concludes with Schwarzenegger's character getting possessed by the devil and having to impale himself on a sword to save humanity. Now that's a wild ride.