Most actresses are in favor of inclusion of intimacy coordinators on film and television sets in the wake of the #MeToo scandal.
But Lily Allen has said they make performing sex scenes ‘weird’ and thinks constantly asking the other actor’s permission to touch them is ‘difficult’.
The Smile singer, 39, appeared in the six-part Sky comedy-drama Dreamland last year, in which she shared a steamy scene with her co-star Kiell Smith-Bynoe.
But speaking on her podcast Miss Me? Lily told her co-host and best friend Miquita Oliver: ‘I don’t know how useful I found it [intimacy co-ordination] personal. I would have preferred to just throw myself in at the deep end and let it happen.
‘But what I found difficult is that you had to ask the person permission if he or she was okay with you putting your hand somewhere before you did it, and I just couldn’t do that.
Lily Allen has said the inclusion of intimacy coordinators on film and television sets makes performing sex scenes ‘weird’ and thinks constantly asking for the other actor’s permission to touch them is ‘difficult’ (pictured in February)
The Smile singer, 39, appeared in the six-part Sky comedy-drama Dreamland (pictured) last year, sharing a steamy scene with her co-star Kiell Smith-Bynoe
But speaking on her podcast Miss Me? Lily told her co-host and best friend Miquita Oliver (pictured): ‘I would have rather just thrown myself in at the deep end and let it happen’
“I’d say, ‘Kiell, are you happy with me putting my hand on you? I just didn’t understand the format, it was a bit of a bafflement.
‘I thought: can we just kiss? It’s like making it weird… this makes it weird.”
The singer and actress’s views on intimacy coordinators are at odds with those of many Hollywood stars, from Dame Emma Thompson to Phoebe Dynevor, who have campaigned for their presence on set.
Dame Emma, 65, has previously spoken out, arguing that intimacy coordinators are ‘fantastically important’ and many performers are highlighting their positive presence.
The Nanny McPhee star said: ‘You may notice people saying, “It made me feel comfortable, it made me feel safe, it made me feel like I could do this work.”
‘And no, you can just let it flow. There’s a camera there and a crew. You’re not alone in a hotel room, you’re usually surrounded by a bunch of guys. So it is not a comfortable situation.’
Meanwhile, Bridgerton star Phoebe, 29, had to perform several sex scenes in the steamy Netflix period drama opposite her co-star and heartthrob, Rege-Jean Page.
She praised her intimacy coordinator, Lizzy Talbot, who made the experience feel safe because Phoebe would be the first to talk to her if the director asked for anything else from the scene.
The singer and actress’s views on intimacy coordinators are at odds with those of many Hollywood stars, from Dame Emma Thompson (pictured last year) to Phoebe Dynevor – who have campaigned for their presence on set
Dame Emma, 65, has previously spoken out, arguing that intimacy coordinators are ‘fantastically important’ and many performers are emphasizing their positive presence (pictured in Good Luck To You, Leo Grande)
Meanwhile, Bridgerton star Phoebe, 29, had to perform several sex scenes in the steamy Netflix period drama opposite her co-star and heartthrob, Rege-Jean Page (pictured together in the show)
She praised her intimacy coordinator, Lizzy Talbot, who made the experience feel safe because Phoebe would be the first to talk to her if the director asked for anything else from the scene.
The actress, who played Daphne Bridgerton, said: ‘I think it would have been a difficult experience if Lizzy hadn’t been on set to protect me and look after me.
‘We did the intimate scenes as stunts – we blocked them out so you have yoga balls between you and all kinds of things that don’t make you feel exposed in any way.
‘You always feel safe. I had rehearsed so much with Rege that we both knew what we were doing. It felt very practical.’
And husband and wife Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead even had an intimacy coordinator while filming for A Gentleman in Moscow, with Ewan saying they were vital to the crew, actors and director.
He told the Radio Times: ‘It’s still necessary because it’s also about the crew, and it’s strange to be naked in front of people, it’s strange to be intimate in front of the camera.
“If you were doing a dance scene, you’d have a choreographer. It’s an important part of the job now because it’s someone the director and actors meet in the middle.”
And husband and wife Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead even had an intimacy coordinator while filming for A Gentleman in Moscow, with Ewan saying they were vital to the crew, actors and director (pictured together in March)
