David Henrie says he won’t accept acting roles that involve nudity, sex scenes or kissing, explaining that he sees those boundaries as part of respecting his marriage.
“I draw the line at anything that would violate our relationship as a married couple,” the actor said on “The Unplanned Podcast,” where he appeared with his wife, Maria Cahill.
Henrie, 37, who starred in “Wizards of Waverly Place,” mentioned nudity as an example. Cahill joked that he wouldn’t kiss anyone else on screen. She said she trusts him and may be less concerned about the issue than he is.
Henrie said he’ll consider a role as long as it doesn’t go against his conscience or values. He drew a distinction between acting out fictional violence and performing an intimate scene.
“If I have to kill someone, I’m not really killing someone,” he said, adding that such an action can be faked. Intimate scenes, he argued, feel different because the actors are actually kissing or making out, even if they try to distract themselves.
“It would feel weird,” he said of taking part in those scenes. “I’m not going to do it.”
The couple also talked about Henrie’s past role as Justin Russo on “Wizards of Waverly Place.” Their four children recently watched an episode featuring a kiss between Justin and his love interest, and apparently weren’t pleased.
“They were like, ‘You have another wife?’” Cahill recalled. Henrie said the children still bring it up, telling their mother that “Papa kissed another woman” or that he has a girlfriend.
Henrie, a devout Catholic, has also spoken about the professional costs of sticking to his beliefs. Earlier this year, he said he lost agents and turned down roles that he felt would disrespect his faith.
He said the choices cost him money and friendships, including a relationship with a girlfriend at the time. He eventually formed new friendships that challenged him, he said, and later met Cahill.
