Sex scene is like filming a fight, says BBC star
DAISY EDGAR-JONES says filming sex scenes for Normal People was like performing stunts in a fight sequence.
The actress has revealed that she believes the “protection” of an expert “intimacy director” was necessary for the performers involved in the BBC drama.
Edgar-jones appeared alongside Paul Mescal in the tale of young love, which attracted attention for its quality and its erotic content, and was a hit with older viewers seemingly driven by romantic escapism and nostalgia for young love at the height of the Covid-19 lockdown.
She played the cerebral Marianne, who becomes secretly involved with Mescal’s more popular Connell before and during their university years.
Their intimate scenes achieved notoriety for their graphic realism, and praise for their focus on consent.
Now Edgar-jones has spoken of the mental challenge behind the headlinegrabbing scenes, which she says were prepared for with the same attention to detail and careful direction as a stunt sequence.
Intimacy director Ita O’brien guided the stars through the scenes, something the lead actress was grateful for. “You need more protection because it is a stunt,” she told Porter magazine.
“With physical manoeuvres that you need to make look realistic – just like in a fight scene. Mentally, it’s a really vulnerable place to put yourself in.”
Edgar-jones says she has noted a change in the scripts she has received since the show aired, finding a greater number of pieces written for a more mature young audience capable of handling challenging content.
Now she says that she is now looking forward to celebrating the success of Normal People with fellow cast members after their separation because of the lockdown. She said: “I’m best friends with all the cast, so I just want to be able to have a little scream and a dance, because it is bonkers.”
‘There are physical manoeuvres you need to make look realistic, just like in a fight scene’