🔗 Share this article

Jennifer Lawrence has become part of the growing list of performers who voice skepticism about the essential need of intimacy coordinators, revealing she opted against their assistance while working on her latest project Die My Love.

Understanding the Purpose of Intimacy Coordinators

On-set intimacy professionals emerged following the #MeToo movement to guarantee the safety and comfort of actors during scenes involving partial undress and intimate moments. Yet, several well-known actors including Jennifer Aniston and Sean Bean have expressed reservations about their involvement, with several claiming they interfere with artistic process.

Jennifer's On-Set Perspective

Speaking during the Las Culturistas podcast, while promoting her new film where she portrays a woman descending into postpartum disturbance, Lawrence commented: "We chose not to use 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 not pervy and very committed to Suki Waterhouse. What we discussed mostly focused on family life and personal connections. There was absolutely no awkward tension or doubts about professional limits."

"Had there been the slightest indication of unease, I definitely would have insisted on an on-set professional. Many male actors take offense if you don't reciprocate their advances, and subsequently the negative treatment starts. He was not like that."

Industry Recognition and Ongoing Debate

Recently, entertainment database IMDb formally acknowledged on-set intimacy professionals as a distinct credit, alongside multiple additional crew positions including dance direction, catering, and puppetry. Before this, they were grouped under "additional crew" instead of having their specific credit.

Notwithstanding this validation, these professionals still encounter media scrutiny suggesting they might not be industry essential, with high-profile performers declining their involvement. Lawrence's perspective mirrors that of another prominent actress, who previously shared she refused intimacy coordination while working with Jon Hamm on their television series.

Jennifer's Perspective

"He proved to be such a gentleman – I mean every move, every cut, 'Are you OK?" she remembered. "The scenes were also carefully planned. That's the advantage of working with talented directors, suitable lighting. So, you don't prepare."

Aniston continued, "Production suggested, 'Professional verification if you're comfortable,' and I thought, 'Please, this is sufficiently uncomfortable!' We're seasoned actors – we can handle this. And we had our director on set."

Additional Cases and Professional Response

Despite featuring numerous scenes of intimate moments and regular undress, Anora – Sean Baker's acclaimed project about a adult entertainer and a wealthy heir – filmed without an on-set professional.

Mikey Madison stated she and fellow actor Mark Eydelshteyn "concluded it would be best to keep it small."

"The role I play is a sex worker, and I had researched the director's work and recognized his commitment to authenticity. I was professionally ready for it. As an performer, I approached it as part of my job."

Her comments generated significant backlash from industry professionals, mirroring the reaction to Gwyneth Paltrow's recent comments, who earlier this year revealed that working on her forthcoming project Marty Supreme represented her initial experience with the emerging role, which she "was unaware of previously."

Gwyneth's Viewpoint

When asked about personal ease with a particular action alongside co-star her younger counterpart, Paltrow answered: "I'm from the era where you get naked, you get in bed, the camera's on."

Paltrow added that she and her co-star then told the coordinator: "We believe we're good. You can maintain distance.' I can't speak to how it is for emerging actors, but... if someone is directing, '{OK, then he's going to place his hand here,' I would feel, as an artist, extremely restricted by that."

Professional Reaction

Following these comments, industry executive an experienced producer described them as "concerning" and pointed out that the majority of those opposing these professionals possess sufficient fame to command their own power and security on film sets.

"Occasionally an actor shares opinions about whether they value on-set professionals or not," said Hollick. "The actress mentioned she grew up in a period when people in Hollywood 'took our kit off and got on with it'. As a powerful woman in Hollywood working with a man considerably junior than her, although likely Chalamet is chill, I considered it quite an irresponsible remark."

Male Perspective

Michael Douglas, in contrast, expressed that he feels the primary responsibility during heterosexual sex scenes falls on the male performer, rather than a external professional.

"Based on my career, you take responsibility as the male actor to ensure the female co-star is at ease, you discuss it completely," he explained. "You state, '{OK, I'm going to make contact there if that's agreeable'. It's extremely careful but seems like it's occurring organically, which is hopefully what authentic performance appears as."