A Hollywood actress accused of abusing a schoolgirl with her Taekwondo master husband has branded the allegations 'fabricated' and 'ridiculous' at court.
Zara Marke, 36, who starred in the hit 2016 Marvel superhero film 'Doctor Strange' with Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton, is said to taken part in sexual activity with the youngster over a three-year period, starting when she was just 13.
But taking to the witness box at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, she attempted to discredit the alleged victim, claiming the teen had 'lied to me all the time I have known her.'
Prosecutors claim Zara and husband Victor Marke, 59 regularly assaulted the teenager in their home - with Victor sometimes filming the incidents in an 'attempt to recreate pornographic scenes'.
Jurors have been told the alleged abuse began in 2005 after the Markes plied the girl with Captain Morgan dark rum, before Zara, who has appeared in a string of movies under the name Zara Phythian, 'dared' her to perform a sex act on Victor.
The incidents are said to have progressed to including full sexual intercourse, with activity taking place 'once or twice a month' until 2008, and the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, being ordered 'not to tell anyone'.
The Markes, both martial arts experts, are jointly charged with 14 counts of sexual activity with a child, which they have pleaded not guilty to.
Victor Marke, 59, is accused of grooming the youngster from the age of 13 alongside his actress wife Zara Phythian, 37 (they are seen arriving at Nottingham Crown Court)
Zara starred in Doctor Strange with Benedict Cumberbatch, left. She is now on trial for child sex offences with her husband Victor
On Thursday, Zara entered the witness box to give evidence in her own defence on day eight of the trial.
Wearing a light grey trouser suit and dark roll-neck top, she listened as her barrister James Varley described her as a 'top-flight martial artist who branched off into a media and film career'.
Zara told jurors she was 'spotted' while taking part in a tournament in the US, after which she took part in Guinness World Record attempts on Sky TV, and did 'lots of stunt work'.
She then began 'working her way up the ladder' – and in 2016 was successful in auditioning for the role of 'Brunette Zealot' in Doctor Strange, which grossed $677m at the box office.
Zara said: 'It was a massive stepping stone. In early 2016 we did some pick-ups in New York and Los Angeles, and it (her role) was leaked to the media and there were photos of me and (actor) Mads Mikkelsen) on the streets.'
She added she was offered a position on tour with Britain's Got Talent winners Diversity – but had to turn down the dance group because she was defending a world record in India.
Jurors heard the alleged abuse began after the couple plied the girl with Captain Morgan dark rum, before Zara (pictured) 'dared' her to perform a sex act on Victor
However, in March 2017 she was arrested on suspicion of sex crimes involving the girl alongside her husband.
Zara, who told the court that her current business interests included running a martial arts academy as well as owning an entertainment and production firm, said she'd 'never been in trouble with the police before'.
She was then
