I’m behind the sauciest TV moments including Nicole Kidman’s orgasms in Babygirl, here’s what filming sex scenes is like
THE WOMAN behind TV’s sexiest and raunchiest scenes has revealed what really goes on behind the scenes – including Nicole Kidman’s non-stop orgasms in her new film Babygirl.
Nicole, 57, set tongues wagging as she revealed she was so turned on by her sexy new role she had to stop filming to have a break from orgasms.
The new film Babygirl sees the Oscar-winning actress playing a high-powered married company boss who falls for a kinky young intern.
This erotic thriller sees Nicole stripping naked and longing to be dominated by her new employee.
In a recent interview, Nicole says that performing the scenes with young British actor Harris Dickinson, who plays the intern, and Antonio Banderas, as her husband, Jacob, was often too much to cope with.
She says: “There was an enormous amount of sharing and trust and then frustration.
“It’s like, ‘Don’t touch me’.
“There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more.'”
Nicole Kidman‘s comments on the sexually charged film has made it’s release highly anticipated – and we all have one woman to thank for it, Lizzy Talbot.
The TV and film intimacy coordinator, began her career coordinating fight scenes, before moving to the raunchier scenes in 2015
Lizzy has previously described how the two roles were similar in her mind; as they both involved ‘choreography’ and ‘risk management’..
She has a string of huge titles under her belt including No Hard Feelings starring Jennifer Lawrence and recent Netflix hit, The Perfect Couple (also starring Kidman).
But Lizzie is most famous for her romantic and yearning sex scenes in the hit Netflix show Bridgerton, in particular the carriage scene with Penelope and Colin which left viewers open mouthed all summer long.
Now with a wealth of experience Lizzy has revealed the behind-the-scenes secrets that help create the steamiest scenes TV and film have ever seen.
Crossed off
Speaking to casting agency Spotlight earlier this year, Izzy explained the process of how intimacy coordination works in practice on set – and there’s a whole bunch of paperwork involved.
She explained actors fill out ‘intimacy riders’ at the beginning of filming, in which they set out their limits and boundaries for what they are prepared to film in the way of intimacy and ‘simulated sex’ – to ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable.
Lizzy's sex scene tool kit
Intimacy coaches will devise a choreographed routine where the actors know exactly whose hands are going where and when. Other times they'll take a looser 'paint by numbers' approach where one section of the body, like from the neck to the lower back, will be free to work with. But both performers in the scene will know that beyond that designated area is off limits...
Half-deflated netball – used on series two of Bridgerton, a half-deflated netball keeps a distance between the two actors involved but allows intimate scenes to look realistic
Hibue/shibue — strapless thongs, in a range of skin tones, that stick to the pelvis and prevents genitalia from touching
Merkins — a pubic wig, often used in period dramas or to provide additional covering
Flesh-coloured underwear — these can be long enough to cover the thighs and, with the right colour, match remain invisible
Small cushions stuffed with lambswool — to create a barrier between the actors’ genitalia during sex scenes
Mints — to freshen breath for kissing scenes, especially after one actor has taken a cigarette break
Glycerine and water spray — to create the illusion of beads of sweat during/after vigorous sex scenes
Heat pads — used under robes to keep actors warm between takes
Aloe Vera gel — soothes skin chafed or irritated by modesty garments
Nipple daisies — to cover an actor’s areola, ensuring only side breast is visible
The intimacy coordinator also explained that there were a set of ‘protocols’ to adhere to which includes limiting the number of people on set and present for the stimulated sex.
Izzy also spent time after the scene was filmed, helping the actors ‘de-role’; that is ‘shed’ their character, once filming has finished.
Before the cameras even start to role – the scene is mapped out to perfect detail by Izzy and the director.
Each movement is painstakingly mapped out in the steamy scene; to the point of writing down where every arm or leg will be placed if necessary.
“The goal is that there are no surprises, so the actors can form the correct safety technique and stay protected,” she said.
Guard up
Along with making sure everyone is the know and how the scene will look and what movements the actors will do – they also take extra steps to keep them protected.
Lizzy addressed rumours that a partially-deflated netball had been used to protect actors’ modesty during sex scenes for Bridgerton, she said the team ‘will use anything that provides a secure barrier in between actors’.
The TV pro revealed in an interview with PopSugar that the most common item used as a barrier between actors during Bridgerton sex scenes was a ‘memory-foam cushion’ which she purchased at the airport when flying from New York to London.
Laugh it off
Another important element to filming saucy scenes says Lizzy was to make sure you can laugh about it and shared that the Bridgerton actors brought humour to their bonkathons.
“You will never get through a sex scene with [Jonathan] Bailey with a straight face,” she revealed, adding the Bridgerton heartthrob somehow managed to rip his trousers at the crotch on set not once, but twice.
Speaking about the humour that comes with filming intimate scenes, Talbot told The Times in 2021: “Bodies are funny and messy and they don’t always do what we want them to do.”
She spoke candidly of the hilarious moments that occurred while filming the series’ hottest scenes.
And most of them seemed to include Jonathan Bailey and Sabrina Bartlett, who starred as the aristocrat Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and the opera singer Siena Rosso.
The pair, whose characters were involved in a forbidden sexual relationship, had many athletic scenes to get right.
“At one point in rehearsals, Sabrina slipped and sort of did this fireman’s pole down Johnny to the floor. And I don’t think we recovered for about ten minutes,” Lizzy revealed.
And once the cast were laughing it was hard to re-gain their composure.
Lizzy recalled: “Production was calling up — “Are you finished?” “One minute, I’m regaining the room!” You’ve sort of got to find the joy in it because it is there inherently — bodies are funny and messy and they don’t always do what we want them to do.”