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Sean Bean has spoken about the introduction of intimacy coordinators in a recent interview with The Times of London. In extracts published by The Huffington Post, the actor, best known for his work in films such as The Lord of the Rings, GoldenEye, and Patriot Games and on TV as Ned Stark in Game of Thrones, said the role of the intimacy coordinator would negatively impact the creative freedom of the performer.
“It would inhibit me more because it’s drawing attention to things. Somebody saying, ‘Do this, put your hand there, while you touch his thing …’” the actor said with a laugh. “I think the natural way lovers behave would be ruined by someone bringing it right down to a technical exercise.”
The interviewer pointed out the reason behind intimacy coordinators and why they were brought in following the #MeToo movement against sexual exploitation, harassment and misconduct in the film and TV industry. Bean said it “depends on the actress.”
IMAGE: dainis-graveris
He spoke about a nude scene in Snowpiercer and referenced actor Lena Hall who he, inadvisably, said was “up for anything”. This caused a backlash on social media with Hall herself addressing the comments.
Hall said on Twitter that she needed “to clarify some information in this random article.” She continued: “Just because I am in theater (not cabaret, but I do perform them every once in a while) does not mean that I am up for anything,” she wrote. “Seriously does depend on the other actor, the scene we are about to do, the director, and whatever crew has to be in there to film it.”
PHOTO: Thomas Burstyn
Hall is no stranger to movie and TV sex scenes. In HBO’s 2012 comedy-drama series Girls she appeared in an erotic lesbian scene with Lena Dunham. Five years later, in Daniel Powell and Elizabeth Rohrbaugh’s musical-drama Becks she appeared nude alongside Mena Suvari in which their characters perform in an intimate love scene.
Lena Hall in a lesbian sex scene in TV series Girls.
On her Snowpiercer nudity she did say that Bean was an “awesome” actor who made her feel “comfortable” in scenes of a sexual nature but believes intimacy coordinators are now an important part of a safe creative process.
“If I feel comfortable with my scene partner and with others in the room then I won’t need an intimacy coordinator,” Hall explained. “BUT if there is any part of me that is feeling weird, gross, over exposed etc… I will either challenge the necessity of the scene or I’ll want an IC.”
Discover more on Top 10 Films
Interview: Intimacy Coordinator Brooke Haney On Art & Advocacy
Brooke Haney by Jen Espenson
Brooke Haney, one of the first 50 qualified intimacy coordinators recognised by SAG/AFTRA, talks to Top 10 Films editor Dan Stephens about “The Intimacy Coordinator’s Guidebook: Specialties for Stage and Screen”, which offers in-depth guidance and insight into the choreographing of scenes of simulated sex and nudity.
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