British actress Olivia Colman recently opened up about nearly every actor’s least part of the job, which is filming intimacy scenes. Unsurprisingly, Colman is likewise not a fan, but for a wholly understandable reason.
Colman discussed the subject with Amy Poehler during an appearance on the up-to-date episode of the Parks and Recreation star’s “Good Hang with Amy Poehler” podcast. Prior to the interview, Poehler had spoken with Colman’s The Roses costar Benedict Cumberbatch, and asked him if he had any questions for her guest.
Noting that Cumberbatch is “in awe” of Colman, Poehler said that he not unreasonably wanted to know what she was most afraid of.
“Acting-wise?” asked Colman, to which Poehler responded, “Well, I couldn’t really tell. I couldn’t really tell what the question was, but let’s say sure.”
“Anything where I have to show any skin. Or pretending to have sex with someone,” the 51-year-old quickly responded. “I don’t like it—I don’t like it. I feel like I’m being unfaithful and it just feels a bit [groans].”
Colman has been married to writer and producer Ed Sinclair since 2001, and the couple share three children. So her discomfort certainly makes sense.
“Even when they go, ‘You can wear your jeans’ or a cushion between you. I don’t want to do that,” she added.
https://www.youtube.com/series?v=ZbggQjzszNs
“And by the way, bless the people that are good at it,”Poehler interjected. “The people that are good at it, I’m like, I’ll series them all day long, and they’re comfy. But oh, and the onscreen orgasm …”
“Nope, absolutely not,” Colman shot back. “Thank god for intimacy coordinators.” She recalled British movement director Ita O’Brien once giving her advice on how to fake an orgasm for cameras.
“[She] said, ‘Imagine the sun is hitting your face.’ That was great!” Colman quipped, as both women broke out into laughter.
Colman also opened up about what it was like working with Cumberbatch for the first time, particularly considering that their two characters were at bitter odds with one another throughout the film.
“I loved working with him, he’s sort of one of life’s innocents, in a way,” Colman quipped. “Because we had so much fun, but when it started to get a little bit more cruel to each other, he did go, ‘Can we pause for a minute? Are we OK?’ ‘Yes, Ben, it’s all pretend. It’s all OK.’”
“And you know, he’s so in it, it’s just lovely. But I felt like I wanted to hold his hand a lot and go, ‘We’re good! We’re still friends,’” she added.
About the Author
