Actor Michael Douglas recently said that he is not in favour of sex scenes choreographed by an intimacy coordinator on set as it takes away control from the filmmaker as well as the actors. And this has further added fuel to the growing debate in Hollywood about the role and importance of an intimacy coordinator on set. (Also read: Michael Douglas hopes India welcomes religious diversity this election, won’t become a country ‘under one religion’)
Michael has filmed many sex scenes during his career in Hollywood, including steamy scenes in Fatal Attraction (1987) and Basic Instinct (1992) that are still talked about in the entertainment industry.
What did Michael say?
In a new interview with Radio Times, per WireThe 79-year-old actor was recently asked about the trend of less sex scenes in films.
“I have passed the age where I have to worry about it. But it’s interesting with all the intimacy coordinators,” he shared, “It feels like the authorities are taking control away from the filmmakers – but there have been some terrible mistakes and harassment”.
Michael continued, “The sex scenes are like fight scenes, it’s all choreographed. In my experience, as a man you take the responsibility of making sure the woman is comfortable, you talk about it. You say, ‘Okay, if all goes well I’ll touch you right here.’ It’s very slow but it feels like it’s happening naturally, hopefully that’s what good acting looks like.”
This isn’t the first time Michael has spoken out against the use of intimacy coordinators on set. He previously told The Telegraph that actors of his era “were careful not to cross the boundaries” during sex scenes.
“I’m sure there were people who crossed their boundaries, but earlier, we took care of it ourselves. They will get prestige and he will take care of them. But I talked to women, [because] I did some of those sex movies – sexual movies – and now we joke about what it would have been like if an intimacy coordinator worked with us.’
Intimacy Coordinators Divide Hollywood
In recent years, especially after Hollywood’s #MeToo movement, filmmakers began having intimacy coordinators on set.
Having intimacy coordinators during sex and nude scenes on Hollywood sets has left the industry divided over whether the coordinators kill spontaneity on screen or make the space safer for the actors.
Actor Sean Bean told British outlet The Times that had intimacy coordinators been used during his previous roles, they would “ruin the spontaneity”. He said.
In fact, actor Michael Caine had also questioned the role of intimacy coordinators. “Really? Seriously? What have been? In my time we never had anything like this. Thank God I’m 90 and don’t play boyfriend anymore, that’s all I can say. In my day, You just did the love scene and continued it without anyone’s interference, it all changed,” he said. daily Mail,
Meanwhile, actresses like Kate Winslet and Zendaya believe that having an intimacy coordinator on set creates a safer environment. “I needed an intimacy coordinator every time I had to do a love scene or be partially nude or have a kissing scene,” Kate said. the new York Times In March 2024.
Actress Emma Stone, who filmed several sex scenes for 2023’s Poor Things, insisted that the presence of an intimacy coordinator helped her feel more comfortable on set. “Happen [coordinator Elle McAlpine] It felt like there was both a safety net and a choreographer and a handhold. He and I would message a day after doing some of these scenes and talk about how we were feeling and what was going on. And it was a really beautiful relationship that I found very, very meaningful,” Emma said. npr In January 2024.
recently, Zendaya Shared that having an intimacy coordinator was “very helpful” for challengers.