Heather Graham says intimacy coordinators can be' awkward'
While Heather Graham thinks there is "very good intention" for intimacy coordinators, they are not for her.
Heather Graham thinks intimacy coordinators can be "awkward".
The actress said it feels strange to have someone watching closely during a sex scene because she has not had that before in projects, such as when the star had nude scenes as Rollergirl, a young porn actress, in the 1997 film Boogie Nights.
Heather, 56, told Us Weekly: "I think the MeToo movement was amazing, [and] I think there is a very good intention behind intimacy coordinators.
"But it is odd when you come up without having them, and suddenly there’s this random person in the room just staring at you when you’re, like, pretending you have sex, it’s kind of awkward.”
But it gets even more awkward when there are multiple intimacy coordinators - who choreograph raunchy scenes and make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable.
Heather added: "I know that they have a beautiful intention, and they really want to help and protect actors. But as the actor, sometimes I’m like, ‘Can you just get all these people out of the room?'"
The star of the 2002 erotic thriller, Killing Me Softly, worried for an intimacy coordinator during a passionate scene in a recent project.
Heather recalled: "I just did this other horror movie, and there was this adorable intimacy coordinator. She was in her 20s, super sweet.
"We were doing this scary scene, and I felt like I had to take care of her. She’s like, 'This is really disturbing.' And I’m like, 'I know, I’m sorry.'
"It’s kind of awkward.”
However, sometimes the person overseeing the steamy scenes can be too controlling.
Heather remembered: "One time, I had an intimacy coordinator, and they started directing me on, like, how to have sex in a scene.
"They were like, 'When you do this, you can do this.' And I was like, 'You’re not the director, OK? I’m not asking for notes on how to have sex in the scene.'
"I just felt, like, 'Shut up.' I’m like, 'You can just tell this to the director… because I don’t want to have two different people directing me.'
"It’s confusing."
While intimacy coordinators may not be beneficial for her, Heather - who played porn star-turned-adult film director in the 2012 drama, About Cherry - said it might be for other actors.
She said: "It might be better if you’re younger and don’t know how to stand for yourself and speak up for yourself. At this point, I feel like I’m strong enough. So I just don’t want a lot of extra people in the room."
