🔗 Share this article

Jennifer Lawrence has become part of the increasing number of actors who express doubts about the essential need of on-set intimacy professionals, explaining she chose not to use their services while filming her new movie Die My Love.

Examining the Role of On-Set Intimacy Professionals

On-set intimacy professionals were introduced following the #MeToo era to ensure the safety and ease of actors during scenes involving nudity and sexual content. However, several prominent performers including Gwyneth Paltrow and Sean Bean have expressed reservations about their presence, with some suggesting they disrupt artistic process.

Lawrence's Personal Experience

Speaking during the popular culture podcast, while promoting her new film where she plays a woman descending into postpartum disturbance, Lawrence commented: "We did not have an intimacy coordinator, or maybe we did have one but didn't make use of their services... I felt entirely secure with Rob."

She continued: "Rob is completely professional and very committed to Suki Waterhouse. What we discussed primarily focused on our children and relationships. There was absolutely no uncomfortable moments or doubts about personal boundaries."

"If there was even a hint of unease, I definitely would have insisted on an intimacy coordinator. Numerous male performers take offense if you aren't interested in their attention, and subsequently the retaliation starts. Rob was not like that."

Professional Validation and Ongoing Debate

Earlier this week, industry platform IMDb formally acknowledged intimacy coordinators as a distinct credit, together with eleven other crew positions including choreography, catering, and puppetry. Before this, they were categorized as "miscellaneous staff" instead of having their specific credit.

Notwithstanding this validation, these professionals still encounter media scrutiny implying they aren't necessarily industry essential, with well-known actors rejecting their involvement. Jennifer's viewpoint echoes that of Jennifer Aniston, who previously revealed she declined intimacy coordination while filming alongside Jon Hamm on The Morning Show.

Jennifer's Perspective

"He proved to be extremely respectful – I mean every move, between takes, 'Are you OK?" she remembered. "The scenes were also very choreographed. That's the benefit of working with skilled editors, appropriate music. So, you don't prepare."

Aniston continued, "They offered, 'Professional verification if you're comfortable,' and I responded, 'Honestly, this is awkward enough!' We're seasoned actors – we can handle this. And we had Mimi on set."

Other Examples and Professional Response

Despite featuring multiple sequences of sexual activity and regular undress, Anora – Sean Baker's acclaimed project about a sex worker and a Russian oligarch's son – proceeded without an intimacy coordinator.

Mikey Madison explained she and co-star her screen partner "decided it would be preferable to maintain privacy."

"My character is a professional in adult entertainment, and I had researched the director's work and recognized his dedication to realism. I was mentally prepared for it. As an performer, I treated it as part of my job."

These statements generated strong reactions from intimacy coordinators, mirroring the reaction to Gwyneth Paltrow's recent comments, who earlier this year shared that working on her forthcoming project her latest film represented her first encounter with the relatively new profession, which she "did not know existed."

Gwyneth's Viewpoint

During filming about comfort level with a particular action alongside fellow actor Timothée Chalamet, Paltrow responded: "I'm from the generation where you remove clothing, you get in bed, the camera's on."

Paltrow added that she and Chalamet then told the coordinator: "We think we're comfortable. You can maintain distance.' I can't speak to how it is for newer performers, but... if someone is directing, '{OK, then he's going to place his hand here,' I would feel, as an artist, very stifled by that."

Industry Response

Following these comments, industry executive Caroline Hollick described them as "irresponsible" and pointed out that the majority of those speaking against intimacy coordinators possess sufficient fame to maintain personal authority and protection on film sets.

"Occasionally an actor shares opinions about whether they value intimacy coordinators or not," commented the executive. "The actress stated she came of age in a period when people in Hollywood 'took our kit off and got on with it'. As a established actress in Hollywood working with a man much younger than her, while I'm sure Chalamet is comfortable, I found it somewhat concerning remark."

Actor's Viewpoint

The veteran actor, meanwhile, expressed that he believes the main obligation during intimate sequences rests with the male actor, rather than a external professional.

"In my experience, you take responsibility as the man to ensure the woman is at ease, you discuss it thoroughly," he said. "You state, '{OK, I'm going to make contact there if that's agreeable'. It's very deliberate but appears like it's happening naturally, which is ideally what convincing acting looks like."