An exhausting day at work might look a lot different for us lot than it does for Nicole Kidman, but at least we don’t have to feign multiple orgasms in front of an entire production crew before clocking off.
The Australian star, 57, might not be getting her hands dirty on a film set, but you can’t say the same about her behaviour.
In fact, she admitted she was forced to take a time out while shooting intimate scenes for Halina Reijn’s erotic thriller, Babygirl, as she felt so ‘burnt out’ from repeatedly pretending her world had been rocked in front of an entire production crew. Take a look at the trailer here:
That’s not to say she didn’t enjoy filming the risqué scenes with her on-screen lover, played by London-born actor Harris Dickinson, but seen as though the whole film hinges on their steamy affair, there’s obviously plenty of parts where she has to simulate getting her rocks off.
Kidman stars as workaholic CEO Romy in Babygirl, who ends up having a fling with her much younger intern Samuel while her husband (Antonio Banderas) has no clue.
The flick – which is set to be released in UK cinemas on 10 January, 2025 – is set to explore the nature of power dynamics and sexuality within a professional setting, so it’s a bit like 50 Shades of Grey meets The Office by the sounds of things.
Kidman has shared some of the secrets regarding how she and Dickinson, 28, got hot and heavy without actually doing so, as well as praising the movie’s intimacy coordinator, Lizzy Talbot, for lending her expertise.
But how about we cut out the middle man and go straight to the horse’s mouth – or should I say sex scene guru – to find out her magic formula for fashioning a salacious yet sophisticated moment between two stars on set?
Talbot has been behind some of the most racy scenes in both TV and film in recent years, having worked on the likes of Bridgerton, No Hard Feelings, The Witcher and This Is Going to Hurt, after previously coordinating fight scenes.
Scraps to sex, eh.
Nicole Kidman stars alongside Harris Dickinson in Babygirl (A24)
She’s nearly a decade into this side of things now and she reckons that her former role helped her on her massively on her quest to become an intimacy coordinator, as both involve ‘choreography, risk management and powerful storytelling through physicality’.
Talbot previously told Spotlight that the cast set their boundaries before they step foot on set, while also explaining that her job doesn’t just finish when the sex scene has.
The intimacy coordinator said: “Before the shoot, actors fill out intimacy riders, which state the limits of what they are willing to do during scenes that involve simulated sex or intimacy.
“During the shoot, we instigated closed set protocols, which includes limiting the amount of people who can be on set. And once shooting has finished, we also help the actor de-role after a scene and give them the tools that they need to leave the character at the door.”
Talbot said she and her colleagues ‘make a breakdown’ of a script after receiving it before chatting with the director of the film to get an idea of their ‘creative vision’.
“A script doesn’t always tell you everything,” she continued. “It will leave a lot to the imagination. However, the director will have a clear idea of what that looks like.
“We will then format each movement in the scene in the same way as you would do for a safe stage slap or punch.”
Intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot explained how she makes sure everything goes smoothly on set during sex scenes (Instagram/@lizzyhtalbot)
“We can even go as far as to make notes in the script on where arms and legs need to be placed,” Talbot went on. “The goal is that there are no surprises, so the actors can form the correct safety technique and stay protected.”
She said intimacy coordinators will use all sorts to create a ‘secure barrier’ between actors during sex scenes and she reckons doing this pays off massively.
“It gives them far more freedom to commit to the scene without being stressed,” Talbot added, explaining that a ‘crafted [sex] scene’ where everyone is clear on what goes where is much better than a slapdash one.
“If an actor is confident on where they can touch someone and the quality of touch that they can give, they can really commit to it,” she said.
Despite Talbot’s presence being an essential component and Kidman really admiring her work, the actress said she made sure that she and Dickinson weren’t ‘confined’ by the intimacy coordinator.
“I’m a huge believer still in the sacredness of the set or the actors’ space, and it never, never being violated,” the Eyes Wide Shut actress said. “Because it’s ours, it’s the bubble, and then there’s the world outside.”
I guess I’ll catch you all in the cinemas on 10 January to see how all this plays out on screen then.