Why Toni Collette asked intimacy co-ordinators to leave set while filming sex scenes

As more studios bring in “intimacy co-ordinators” during sex scenes, Toni Collette has revealed she told hers to leave.

Toni Collette, 50, has spoken about intimacy co-ordinators in a new interview. Picture: BBC

Australian actress Toni Collette is detailing the discomfort she has felt on-set filming sex scenes – but not in the way you may think.

The 50-year-old expressed her views on the use of intimacy co-ordinators to help actors safely film sex scenes during an interview with The Sunday Times.

“I think it’s only been a couple of times where they’ve been brought in, and I have very much trusted and felt at ease with the people I was working with. It just felt like those people who were brought in to make me feel more at ease were actually making me feel more anxious,” she said, Fox News reports.

“They weren’t helping, so I asked them to leave.”

Colin Firth and Toni Collette in a scene from the Binge crime drama The Staircase. Picture: Binge

In recent years, Hollywood studios have brought intimacy co-ordinators on to sets in a bid to help actors comfortably film nudity and sex scenes.

Collette reveals that had this practice been used when she was a younger actor, perhaps she would have a different outlook.

“It depends. Look, every job is different. Every single job is different. Because it’s a bunch of new people, it’s a new energy,” the veteran actress said.

“Everyone brings their whole life with them, and it’s all thrown in the pot. You never know what you’re going to get and it’s a miracle that a film ever comes together, let alone thrives.

Toni Collette, 50, starred in the X-rated British drama Wanderlust in 2018. Picture: BBC

“I’ve been very fortunate in that I’ve only worked with a few a**holes over the several decades that I’ve managed to keep this boat afloat.”

It is almost 30 years since the Sydney-born actress starred in her breakout role in 1994 film Muriel’s Wedding.

Since then she has received an Academy Award nomination for 1999 film The Sixth Sense, as well as appeared in TV series including United States Of Tara and The Staircase.

“I think I was much braver when I was younger,” she said. “I think the more you learn about the world, the more cautious you become, because you know you can make mistakes. All the pitfalls become glaringly obvious. People start to get safer.

“I actively try to go against that because, as far as we know, we’re only here once. Why not f***ing go for it on all fronts, in every area of life?”

Toni Collette says having intimacy co-ordinators on set makes her feel more anxious. Picture: Todd Williamson/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Collette, who recently split from her husband of 19 years David Galafassi, spoke in the interview about how the industry has evolved over her long career, also touching on cancel culture.

She praised people like British comedian Ricky Gervais, who actively takes on cancel culture.

“God, when [cancel culture] was first mentioned to me, a while back now, I didn’t quite understand what people meant,” she said.

“I mean, we don’t want people who are offensive swinging their stuff around with freedom.

“But people who are authentic and have something within them to share in life, feeling stifled? Doesn’t feel so good, does it?”

This story originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Why Toni Collette asked intimacy co-ordinators to leave set while filming sex scenes