“It was a full-circle moment to become an intimacy coordinator because it meant becoming the person I never had and needed in that room as an actor.” – Samantha Murray
Once, actors had to navigate intimate scenes alone. Now, an industry shift is ensuring they are no longer left unprotected.
Before intimacy coordinators, actors were often told to figure out intimate scenes on their own, with no structured support. This lack of guidance frequently led to feelings of vulnerability and discomfort. From the outside, a simulated sex scene or even “a simple kiss” may seem like just another part of the job. But behind the scenes, a non-choreographed intimate moment can be as daunting as performing a stunt without safety measures.
That is where intimacy coordinators come in—a vital, yet often misunderstood, role revolutionising how films, TV shows, and theatre handle intimate content.
A divided industry
For example, HBO’s Euphoria has been widely praised for its use of intimacy coordinators, ensuring that performers like Sydney Sweeney felt comfortable during nude scenes. By contrast, the recent Best Picture winner Anora, directed by Sean Baker, sparked controversy over its decision not to employ an intimacy coordinator during production. Lead actress Mikey Madison, who portrays a Brooklyn lap dancer in the film, defended this choice, claiming that she, Baker, and her co-star managed the scenes collaboratively to maintain both comfort and authenticity.
However, while Madison may have felt safe, the absence of an intimacy coordinator posed a potential risk for everyone on set. Intimacy coordinators do more than just protect lead actors; they ensure a professional and secure environment for all involved, from supporting actors to crew members. Given Anora’s explicit content and its focus on the sex work industry—a subject already fraught with exploitation concerns—the decision to proceed without an intimacy coordinator is particularly contentious.
Beyond Anora, there has been a growing movement advocating for stronger protections and industry-wide standards for intimacy coordinators. With Anora securing multiple Oscars, including Madison’s Best Actress win, her public praise of working without an intimacy coordinator could set a dangerous precedent, reinforcing the fragile perception of their necessity in Hollywood. Even though she emphasised that her decision was specific to this project, the film’s handling of intimate scenes risks being viewed as a step backward rather than forward.
What does an intimacy coordinator do?
An intimacy coordinator is a trained professional who choreographs and oversees intimate scenes, ensuring that they are executed safely and ethically. Their responsibilities include facilitating clear communication about boundaries, creating structured choreography for intimate actions, and ensuring that all interactions comply with informed consent.
Murray described one method intimacy coordinators use is the “traffic light” system, where body parts are assigned colours: green for full comfort, yellow for flexibility, and red for strict boundaries. As the mediator between directors, actors, and production teams, intimacy coordinators strike a balance between creative vision and ethical practice.
Murray’s journey
Samantha Murray, an actress-turned-intimacy coordinator, was drawn to the role after spending 20 years navigating film sets as an actress. Reflecting on her early career, she admits: “My first experience on set could have been better. I would have really benefited from an intimacy coordinator—but of course, that was years ago.” Now, she is determined to be part of the industry’s transformation, adding, “It’s nice to be part of the change you want to see in the world.”
To explain the importance of intimacy coordinators to those unfamiliar with the role, Murray uses a simple tennis metaphor: “You will play better when you know where the lines are. Without them, it’s just an open patch of grass with no limits, rules, or regulations.” Less experienced actors, she notes, often feel lost without structured guidelines. “They may look around, unsure of what to do, relying on cues from others instead of confidently engaging with the scene.”
This concept resonated with actress Florence Pugh, who openly praised intimacy coordinators in an interview with LADbible. Referencing her experience filming Oppenheimer, Pugh stated that having an Intimacy coordinator allowed her to focus fully on her craft, particularly during “awkward” simulated sex scenes.
“To deliver a high-level performance and truly take risks in a character and storytelling, you need to know where the lines are.” With clear boundaries in place, actors can explore their roles with depth and authenticity, free from the fear of crossing an unspoken line. Without these safeguards, Murray warns, “actors might instinctively pull back as a form of self-protection, holding part of themselves in reserve.” With an intimacy coordinator present, they can trust that their safety is prioritised. “Like a stunt performer, they can take the fall knowing that, by law, there is a net to catch them.”
Resistance to change
The rise of intimacy coordinators coincides with the cultural reckoning of the #MeToo movement, which exposed longstanding power imbalances in Hollywood.
Murray points out that intimacy coordinators are not just about preventing misconduct but about “creating an environment where people feel like they can do their best work.” However, not everyone welcomes this shift. Resistance often stems from unfamiliarity with the role or misconceptions about its purpose.
“Sometimes it’s just a lack of experience with an intimacy coordinator” Murray explains. “Many people have only heard about the role or had a negative experience, so they’re trying to understand how we fit into their process.”
Clear communication and collaboration, she believes, are key to overcoming these misconceptions. “For producers, it should be a win-win,” she adds. Intimacy coordinators enhance creativity rather than stifle it. That said, they also have the authority to push back when a “creative” choice is deemed unnecessary or harmful, particularly for young actors new to the industry.
Star power and the industry divide
The reluctance to embrace intimacy coordinators is particularly pronounced among older actors and directors who spent decades navigating sets without such protections. Many built their careers in an era when boundaries were nonexistent, and saying “no” to a director could risk being labelled difficult or unprofessional.
For younger performers, this dynamic can be especially intimidating. They may worry that setting boundaries will damage their reputation or cost them future opportunities, used to being told that in this industry actors are replaced with someone who is “willing to do the job.” Murray highlights how, in the 90s and early 2000s, female actors who pushed back were frequently labelled “difficult and hard to work with.” Many, she says, “would grit their teeth and just keep going.”
Levelling the playing field
Historically, resistance was rare because “most actors were keen to please.” Who would risk their job by asserting control over their own body? Intimacy coordinators help level this playing field, ensuring that safety and consent are not privileges tied to experience but rights extended to everyone on set.
For young actors, this assurance can mean the difference between self-preservation and artistic freedom. Rachel Zegler, for instance, credited intimacy coordinators for empowering her to set personal boundaries while filming West Side Story during an interview with Women and Hollywood at just 17 years old.
Beyond Hollywood, intimacy coordination is gaining traction worldwide. The UK film industry, led by organisations like Intimacy on Set and Safe Sets (the organisation Murray works for) is establishing industry-wide standards. Meanwhile, Bollywood has faced criticism for its lack of on-set safeguards during intimate scenes. This disparity highlights the ongoing need for a global shift in entertainment ethics.
Goldsmiths University student Bronwyn Davies explored the world of intimacy coordination for the first time when premiering her debut play, Goodbye Earl, on 20th March. The project is student-led and is being produced by Goldsmiths’ Drama Society, with performances held at the New Cross House.
Davies mentioned that in past projects, she had felt uncomfortable when performing intimate scenes or even playing characters with backstories that involved intimacy. Reflecting on her experiences, she shared that she was never offered assistance regarding consent or what she felt comfortable doing on stage. She recalled feeling “thrown into a situation she had no right saying no to” when, at the age of 17, a director asked her during rehearsals on opening night if she could “kiss her husband” in front of the entire cast—something she felt obliged to agree to. She later clarified that it was not the kiss itself that made her uncomfortable, but rather the lack of guidance, as neither she nor her scene partner knew how to navigate the situation. When reflecting on the situation she mentions how “that director was a 34-year-old woman and fully qualified, she should have known better.”
Now, as she produces her own play, Davies reflects on the experience, saying, “how much easier it would have been to have an intimacy coordinator on set to make sure those situations never occurred.” She currently serves as the intimacy representative, meaning she works alongside qualified intimacy coordinator Rosie Martin. Davies role consists of regular check-ins with actors regarding their comfort levels on set claiming “the environment becomes safer and more enjoyable.” As well as this when an actor wants to withdraw consent for anything their character is expected to do, they come straight to her, and the scene is subtly adjusted to ensure everyone remains comfortable.” This is especially important considering the cast consists of students who may not have much experience with professional set expectations. By introducing intimacy coordination early in people’s careers, it helps normalise these practices across the industry, hopefully meaning we are leading to a brighter future where industry-wide safety is considered a right, not a complaint.