Rush starred as the Marquis de Sade in Quills

Rush had been working on the movie The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, which is being filmed at London's Shepperton Studios.

Screen Daily reported that Rush took an emergency flight to Australia to be at his wife's side.

HBO Films said filming has been suspended to allow Rush to return home, but said it hoped to resume as early as 23 June.

"The production of HBO's The Life And Death Of Peter Sellers has reworked its shooting schedule to accommodate the temporary absence of its star Geoffrey Rush who has taken a brief hiatus to attend to personal family business," HBO said.

Comic genius

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, directed by Stephen Hopkins, also stars Charlize Theron, Stephen Fry, Stanley Tucci and John Lithgow.

Based on the biography by Roger Lewis, the movie will look at Sellers' personal and professional life, in which he was often described as a comic genius.

It will also include his well-documented love life, including his first marriage to Britt Ekland.

Rush won an Oscar for his portrayal of the tormented pianist David Helfgott in Shine in 1996.