Joe Alwyn and Paul Mescal talk sex scenes and intimacy coordinators

Joe Alwyn and Paul Mescal both worked with the same intimacy coordinator – Ita O’Brien – while filming sex scenes for Lenny Abrahamson’s Normal People and Conversations with Friends, which were based on Sally Rooney books.

‘The scenes are spoken about,’ the 31-year-old Englishman explained in Variety’s Actors on Actors on Thursday.

‘They’re rehearsed. Every movement is almost choreographed like a dance or a fight. And they’re quite blocked, even though there’s freedom within it.’

Trust: Joe Alwyn and Paul Mescal (2-L) both worked with the same intimacy coordinator – Ita O’Brien (R) – while filming sex scenes for Lenny Abrahamson’s Normal People (pictured) and Conversations with Friends, which were based on Sally Rooney books 

The 31-year-old Englishman (L) explained in Variety’s Actors on Actors on Thursday: ‘The scenes are spoken about’

And when French filmmaker Claire Denis directed Joe and Margaret Qualley in a sex scene for her Cannes Grand Prix-winning Hulu romantic thriller Stars at Noon, she simply told them: ‘Just like [painter] Francis Bacon.’

The 26-year-old Irishman reacted: ‘Wow, just that? And… go!’

Alwyn continued: ‘But I trusted Claire and I trusted the crew. And Margaret, obviously. And you feel safe within that. I think trust and feeling safe is the main thing.’

Paul agreed: ‘That is the main thing, totally. It’s like a hot topic in the industry, but I think you’re right. You never want scenes around intimacy to feel stale. But ultimately they have to feel safe. And I think you can feel safe multiple different ways, and that’s ultimately through trust.’

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Joe continued: ‘They’re rehearsed. Every movement is almost choreographed like a dance or a fight. And they’re quite blocked, even though there’s freedom within it’ 

And when French filmmaker Claire Denis directed Alwyn and Margaret Qualley in a sex scene for her Cannes Grand Prix-winning Hulu romantic thriller Stars at Noon, she simply told them: ‘Just like [painter] Francis Bacon’ 

The 26-year-old Irishman reacted: ‘Wow, just that? And… go!’

The Cannes Chopard Trophy winner continued: ‘But I trusted Claire and I trusted the crew. And Margaret, obviously. And you feel safe within that. I think trust and feeling safe is the main thing’

Paul agreed: ‘That is the main thing, totally. It’s like a hot topic in the industry, but I think you’re right. You never want scenes around intimacy to feel stale. But ultimately they have to feel safe. And I think you can feel safe multiple different ways, and that’s ultimately through trust’

Neither of the handsome leading men brought up their famous girlfriends – Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers – who just so happen to be touring the East coast together from May 6-May 27, 2023.

The Cannes Chopard Trophy winner’s down-low romance with the 33-year-old Pennsylvania-born pop star quietly began in late 2016 after meeting at the Met Gala.

Joe co-wrote his 11th song – Sweet Nothing – under the pseudonym of William Bowery for Taylor’s 10th studio album Midnights, which includes a track about their relationship called Lavender Haze.

The Era Tour: Neither of the handsome leading men brought up their famous girlfriends – Taylor Swift (L) and Phoebe Bridgers (R) – who just so happen to be touring the East coast together from May 6-May 27, 2023

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Still going strong! Joe’s down-low romance with the 33-year-old Pennsylvania-born pop star quietly began in late 2016 after meeting at the Met Gala

Grammy winner! Alwyn co-wrote his 11th song – Sweet Nothing – under the pseudonym of William Bowery for Taylor’s 10th studio album Midnights, which includes a track about their relationship called Lavender Haze

Alwyn scored his first-ever Grammy Award for album of the year in 2021 for his contributions to Swift’s ninth studio album Folklore. 

Meanwhile, the Emmy nominee is reportedly engaged to the 28-year-old Cali native – according to The Guardian.

The first hint of romance between Paul and Phoebe was a very public flirty exchange via Twitter on May 12, 2020.

Betrothed? Meanwhile, the Emmy nominee is reportedly engaged to the 28-year-old Cali native (pictured September 3)

Besotted: The first hint of romance between Paul and Phoebe was a very public flirty exchange via Twitter on May 12, 2020 (pictured May 3)

Mescal will next star as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams’ New Orleans drama A Streetcar Named Desire, which begins previews this Saturday and runs January 12-February 4 at the Almeida Theatre in London’s West End.

For his role in Aftersun, the God’s Creatures actor is nominated for the best lead performanace trophy at the 38th Independent Spirit Awards, which takes place March 4 at Santa Monica Pier.

The Catherine Called Birdy actor has been hard at work on the New Orleans set of “AND” which reunites him with his The Favourite co-star Emma Stone and director Yorgos Lanthimos as well as Margaret Qualley.