Florence Pugh Shares Insights on Intimacy Coordinators

Florence Pugh is open about her experiences in the film industry, particularly regarding intimacy on set.

In a recent episode of the “Louis Theroux Podcast,” the 29-year-old actress reflected on her time working on various projects, praising some intimacy coordinators for their work, while suggesting that others created uncomfortable situations. “I’ve had great experiences with intimacy coordinators,” she mentioned. “But I also had an example like this.”

She didn’t name specific directors or films, but described one particularly awkward incident that felt out of place. “It was very weird and awkward, and I felt like I had no role even though I wanted to be engaged in a meaningful way,” Pugh recalled. She emphasized that the job isn’t always straightforward and is constantly evolving.

Pugh also discussed her diverse experiences, from independent films to major productions alongside stars like Harry Styles in “Don’t Worry Darling” and Cillian Murphy in “Oppenheimer.” She noted how things changed with the introduction of intimacy coordinators.

“I’m confident and comfortable in my skin, and I can usually assert myself well,” she said. But, she added, there are still too many instances where the requests made during filming felt inappropriate.

The actress acknowledged that only recently has she grasped how a good intimacy coordinator can enhance storytelling and protect actors. Pugh stated, “When I worked with excellent coordinators, it changed my understanding of how intimacy can be portrayed on screen.”

She reflected on the goal of such scenes: to genuinely capture the essence of human connection, exploring how people interact and what intimacy really means.

Pugh expressed that experiences can vary; sometimes they are excellent, while other times they fall short. Nonetheless, she believes that through these experiences, lessons on effective coordination can be learned.

Interestingly, her comments follow those made by fellow actor Andrew Garfield, who previously noted how intense filming intimacy scenes in their project “We Live in Time” led them to, perhaps, go deeper than expected. “We were really into it, and, honestly, I didn’t even hear the director call cut,” he shared.

Overall, Pugh’s candid remarks shed light on the importance of thoughtful coordination in creating authentic portrayals of intimacy in film.