British actor Florence Pugh, 29, addressed the complexities of intimacy coordination during her recent appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast. Speaking about his career and the changes he has witnessed on film sets, Pugh highlighted both positive and negative encounters with directors and intimacy coordinators. He described intimacy coordination as “a job that is still evolving on its own”, reflecting the ongoing evolution of this profession within the industry.

Pugh explained that through her experiences, she has seen many approaches to intimacy scenes, working with coordinators who have been both “effective” and “completely inappropriate”. His views point to different standards and results depending on the team.

The actress elaborated on what a difference a capable coordinator can make on the set. “When I worked with a fantastic coordinator, I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I’ve been missing, understanding the dance of intimacy instead of just shooting a sex scene.'” She further stressed, “There are good ones and bad ones, and through the good ones I learned how effective it can really be.”

While acknowledging the improvements, Pugh reiterated that “this is a job that’s still doing its thing,” indicating that sustainability remains a challenge. She has also filmed sex scenes before and after the emergence of the intimacy coordinator role, providing insight into how industry practices have evolved.

“I’m quite confident, I’m quite happy in my skin, I’ve always been able to make sure I’m heard,” Pugh said, but also recalled instances of discomfort, adding, “There are a lot of things that I remember where asking me to do that, directing me that way was completely inappropriate.”

Reflecting on these experiences, Pugh shared, “Through working with great people in sex scenes I am now able to understand better meaning,” highlighting the progress she has seen through more effective and well-thought-out coordination.

During the podcast, Pugh commented, “I’m having great experiences with intimacy coordinators,” before adding, “However, I also have a s— example.” She described a negative experience where the coordinator “made it seem so weird and awkward and really not helpful,” reinforcing that standards can still vary greatly between coordinators.

Pugh’s comments underscore the ongoing need for clear guidelines and training in the field, as he summarized, “I think this is a field that’s still working its way out.” His perspective highlights both the progress and obstacles that the industry continues to face in addressing these sensitive aspects of filmmaking.