'It's about consent!' Sex Education intimacy co-ordinator shares experience directing first trans sex scene...
David Thackeray, the intimacy co-ordinator on 'Sex Education', has discussed how he choreographed and directed the Netflix show's first trans sex scene.
The intimacy co-ordinator on 'Sex Education' always checks what the actors' boundaries are first before choreographing any scene.
David Thackeray worked on the set of the Netflix show as the comedy-drama series aired its first trans sex scene which starred Felix Mufti as Roman and Anthony Lexa as Abbi.
Thackeray explained that any sex scene shoot begins with an "open conversation" with both the artists and the director.
He told DigitalSpy: "There's the open conversations with the director and the artist to see what they were comfortable in showing or doing.
"At the same time, it's figuring out what their no's were. You know, what do you not want to show? What do you not want to do? Because then we work around that. And the choreography is based around their consent and boundaries."
David - who worked with fellow intimacy co-ordinator Tigger Blaize and the characters on the majority of their scenes - went on to add that what she show does "well" is make sure that their information and inspiration comes from real-life and that he always wants his actors to feel "comfortable" on set.
He added: "I think what's amazing, and what 'Sex Education' does so well, is that the writers have specialists come in, and they work out what to put on the page, basically, to make sure that it's coming from real sources and not just imagination."
"My go-to would be checking in with the producer, and checking in with the artist, to say, 'Hey, would you prefer someone else for this moment?.
"That's always on my radar, because you want to get it right, and people will feel more comfortable with other people in the room."
Anthony - who is an openly trans woman - was cast as Abbi in the show in 2022 and took to social media to describe her time on the series as an "amazing" and "insane" journey.
She wrote on Instagram: "Watch out for this TRANS gal to come to a screen near you @sexeducation
"What an amazing ANTventure i have ahead of me with @elevenfilmltd @netflixuk . such a pleasure to have @felixmufti and @miss_sassyalex by my side through this insane journey - love you both."
