Trending Now: Liza Minnelli recalls affair with Martin Scorsese, run-in at 2014 Oscars – Fans React

Liza Minnelli is reflecting on her complicated relationship with Martin Scorsese.

The Cabaret star details her affair with the Goodfellas filmmaker in her new book Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, based on conversations and interviews with co-writer Michael Feinstein.

Minnelli worked with Scorsese on the 1977 musical drama New York, New York, and says that she immediately hit it off with the Scorsese after he penned a Variety advertisement defending her father, director Vincente Minnelli, from studio executives who meddled in his final film A Matter of Time.

“I wasn’t just persuaded by Marty’s humility. I was moved by an unexpected kindness,” Minnelli says. “Although the ad had zero impact on those studio morons, it meant the world to me and my father for him to be so honored by his peers. How could I not respect Marty for launching this salvo? He was an avid student of movie history, and he adored Papa’s films.”

Minnelli says that she and Scorsese “quickly got swept up in a passionate romance” while making New York, New York — despite the fact that she was married to Jack Haley Jr. at the time, and the director was married to Julia Cameron.

“I got lost in amour fou, the French term for a passionate relationship that becomes a self-destructive obsession,” she says. “Two lovers are entwined. They can’t let go when things get out of control. The relationship becomes a powerful, hypnotic drug in every way.”

Minnelli says that the relationship was extremely complex. “Truth be told, our love affair had more layers than a lasagna,” she says. “We were both Italian. Passionate. Intense. Committed to our craft. We both had volcanic tempers. Our work drew us together, in closer quarters, day after day. He was a diabolically handsome man who shared my love for film. I was a director’s daughter who respected Marty’s role and authority. Even though I now realize I didn’t understand him.”

The Arrested Development actress says that she and Scorsese “couldn’t get enough of each other,” and that their affair “was the worst-kept secret on the set.” She also opines that struggles with addiction made matters worse. 

“Marty became a heavier and heavier user of cocaine,” she says. “It seemed that it was no longer recreational for either of us. It was day and night. On the set, in between takes, and when we went out in the evening. We were constant companions, and I was right there beside him. Line by line. Marty claimed the drug helped his creative juices. Sure it did. Or is that just one more fabulous lie you tell yourself when you’re in the grip of substance use? Only Marty can answer that for himself.”

New York, New York was not a critical or commercial success upon its initial release, though Minnelli remains proud of her performance in the film. “With Marty’s guidance, however unorthodox, I did some of my finest work,” she says.

The actress then hired Scorsese to direct her Broadway musical The Act, but says that he didn’t know how to channel his talents toward successful stage direction. 

“There were a lot of things that Marty didn’t understand about theater. He was used to being the absolute boss on a movie set. In musical theater, directors run the show — but they’re dependent on a large creative team,” she says. “It also became clear that Marty wasn’t familiar with the art of bringing people on and off a stage, without disturbing the flow of a show. He was in over his head. Our out-of-town reviews were scathing.”

Eventually, Minnelli had to fire Scorsese from the project as they continued their affair. “I did what had to be done,” she says. “It damn near killed me and broke my heart. I lovingly told Marty that we needed to make a change. He was exhausted, and a steady diet of hostility and substances certainly wasn’t helping matters. As it turned out, his life was in jeopardy and he is now able to admit that he ended up in the hospital, cheating death.”

The Arthur star also recalls an awkward encounter in which Scorsese “began berating” her — in public, with Haley present — over her affair with Mikhail Baryshnikov. “There we all were on the street: me, my husband, and Marty,” she remembers. “‘How can you do this to me? How can you do this to me?’ Marty screamed.”

She continues, “Jack and I quickly walked away, trying to laugh it off. It would be impossible to forget. Marty was incensed. I’d been outed. Mikhail got caught up in a messy situation. And Jack now had a good reason for us to part.”

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Minnelli later expresses relief that Scorsese recovered from addiction. “Marty, thank God, eventually recovered from his time of troubles,” she says. “He’s gone on to enjoy a long, productive career. We moved beyond our wild days and nights together. He kicked drugs and booze out of his life and became one of America’s most beloved filmmakers. Marty’s a legend, with classics like Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino under his belt. He’s still going strong.”

However, she also says that she tried to reconnect with Scorsese in the 21st century, and he gave her the cold shoulder. “Not all of the bad feelings have healed,” she says. “Years later, I saw Marty at the Oscars ceremony in 2014 and walked up to say hello. Unfortunately, he turned away from me. Very sad.”

Representatives for Scorsese did not immediately respond to Entertainment Weekly‘s request for comment.

Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! is now available wherever books are sold.