Hollywood has drastically changed the way it handles on-screen romance in recent years, but not every veteran actor is completely thrilled with the new process.
Heather Graham, the beloved star of Boogie Nights and The Hangover, recently shared her very candid, mixed feelings about the industry’s shift toward using intimacy coordinators for sex scenes. While she fully supports the intention behind the role, she admits the actual execution can feel incredibly strange.
Here is what the 56-year-old actress had to say about navigating Hollywood’s new post-MeToo reality.
The “Odd” New Normal
Graham made it clear that she is a huge supporter of the #MeToo movement and understands exactly why the industry made these sweeping changes to protect vulnerable actors. However, adjusting to the new dynamic has been a bit of a culture shock for the Hollywood veteran.
“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,” Graham told Us Weekly. “It’s kind of awkward.”
She admitted that while she appreciates their desire to help, as an actor, there are moments she just wants the extra people out of the room.
Too Many Directors in the Room
The actress also highlighted how the presence of an intimacy coordinator can sometimes step on the toes of the actual filmmaker, creating a highly confusing environment on set.
Graham recalled one specific instance where an intimacy coordinator tried to actively direct her physical movements during 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,’” she explained. Graham noted that receiving conflicting directions from two different people simply muddles the creative process.
A Comical Role Reversal
Sometimes, the presence of a coordinator leads to unintentionally funny moments. While filming her newest horror movie, They Will Kill You (which releases this week!), Graham actually found herself comforting the person hired to protect her.
“I just did this other horror movie, and there was this adorable intimacy coordinator. She was in her 20s, super sweet,” Graham laughed. “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.’”
Confidence Through Experience
Ultimately, Graham believes that intimacy coordinators are a fantastic resource for younger, less experienced actors who might not yet know how to set boundaries or speak up for themselves on a bustling movie set.
However, with decades of industry experience under her belt, Graham feels fully capable of advocating for her own comfort. “At this point, I feel like I’m strong enough,” she stated. “So I just don’t want a lot of extra people in the room.”
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