Rosamund Pike reportedly confronted an audience member after spotting them texting during the closing moments of her West End play, telling the crowd the behaviour had disrupted the connection between performers and the audience.
The actress, best known for roles in Gone Girl and Saltburn, is currently starring in Inter Alia at the Wyndham's Theatre, where she plays a Crown Court judge.
According to an audience member who attended the performance, Pike returned to the stage after the curtain call rather than simply accepting the applause.
Instead, she reportedly addressed an audience member who had been using their phone during the climax of the production.
Theatregoers told The Times that Pike said the texting had broken the bond between the cast and audience during one of the play's most emotional moments.
One audience member recalled: "She suggested that someone texting in the climax of this devastatingly emotional play broke this bond. She seemed genuinely upset."
The same source said the atmosphere in the theatre changed noticeably following the remarks.
"It left everybody a bit stunned," they said, adding that it felt as though "we had all let her down."
While Pike reportedly indicated the area of the stalls where the person had been sitting, she did not identify the individual directly.
Following her massive success in Gone Girl, Pike has continued to showcase her range in films like A Private War (2018) and I Care a Lot (2020). Lucky Team Studios, Shutterstock
According to those present, she also attempted to lighten the moment by joking that perhaps the audience member was a doctor responding to an emergency and saving someone's life.
Inter Alia runs for approximately 100 minutes without an interval, with Pike carrying much of the emotional weight of the production throughout the performance.
Audience phone use has become an increasingly contentious issue in theatres, with actors and venues frequently urging attendees to switch off devices and avoid distractions that can affect both performers and fellow theatregoers.
In this instance, Pike's comments appear to have reflected her frustration at seeing a mobile phone in use during a particularly significant and emotional moment of the play.
