Thank your local intimacy coordinator today! Without their important work, we wouldn’t have those Bridgerton sex scenes we all love so much. Season two is almost here, bringing with it the steamy love scenes that made the first season — and the romance novels the series is based on —so popular. But things aren’t quite as sexy on set as they appear once we hit play on Netflix.
Jonathan Bailey, who plays Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and will be the protagonist of the upcoming season the way Daphne was before, spoke to the Radio Times about filming the, uh, bedroom moments. “It’s amazing how that whole industry has just come on, even in a year,” he said, referring to renewed interest in making potentially uncomfortable scenes a safe working atmosphere. “There are new tricks to the trade — little cushions — and it’s amazing what you can do with a half-inflated netball.” For context, Bridgerton has always had an intimacy coordinator, while the equally steamy Outlander just brought one on for season six.
“If there are two people doing a sex scene, the rule is they must have three barriers separating them and there are certain acts where a half-inflated netball can allow for movement without having to connect physically,” Bailey explained. “It’s pretty silly really and we have some hilarious moments, but it makes it less awkward.”
His costar Simone Ashley, who plays love interest Kate Sharma, has also had a positive experience when it comes to the Bridgerton sex scenes. She told the same outlet, “I wasn’t apprehensive. I’ve always been really confident in my sexuality and in my body. Like most teenage girls, there were years where I was insecure and in my head about myself, but I’ve learnt to really have fun with it, enjoy myself, and love myself more.” Hi, we literally love to hear this.
“I am also confident that I can speak up if I’m not feeling comfortable with anything on set,” Ashley said. “We were in a very safe environment, and we worked with an incredible intimacy coordinator who encouraged us to portray what it is for the female character to experience pleasure. That’s important for us to see because it’s not like it doesn’t happen.”
As Ashley told Glamour in her March cover interview, “I learned some stuff from [the intimacy coordinator]. Whatever the position might have been, she would say, ‘Well, let’s make sure that this is happening so that the woman comes as well.’” As for working with Bailey in those moments, she says, “I felt very safe, especially in rehearsals. We always checked in with each other and treated it like a dance rehearsal, like choreography.”
Bridgerton comes back on March 25, and we are absolutely ready.
This story was originally published on Glamour.com