From Guilt to Laughter: Jennifer Lawrence Opens Up About Her Most Vulnerable Moment Filming ‘Passengers’

In the ever-evolving landscape of Hollywood, the role of intimacy coordinators has gained prominence in ensuring that intimate scenes on film sets are conducted with care, consent, and professionalism. However, not everyone is on board with this increasing trend. While some actors, like Sean Bean and Mikey Madison, have expressed reservations about the presence of intimacy coordinators, many performers, like Jennifer Lawrence, have had to navigate the complexities of intimate scenes in their own ways.

One such moment came in 2016, when Lawrence starred alongside Chris Pratt in the sci-fi film Passengers. The movie required Lawrence to perform her first real sex scene, a task she was admittedly unprepared for, and the experience left her with a lasting sense of discomfort.

In a candid interview at a roundtable discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence opened up about the emotional and physical challenges she faced while filming the intimate scene. “I had my first real sex scene a couple weeks ago, and it was really bizarre. It was really weird,” she confessed. The experience, which involved a kiss with a married man—Pratt was still married to actress Anna Faris at the time—was particularly difficult for Lawrence to process. “I got really, really drunk,” she admitted, acknowledging that she needed something to help her cope with the pressure. “Sex scenes are the most unsexy things in the world,” she added, underscoring how uncomfortable the situation felt despite being purely fictional.

The emotional weight of the scene became even more challenging for Lawrence due to the guilt she felt about kissing a married man. “And he was married. And it was going to be my first time kissing a married man, and guilt is the worst feeling in your stomach,” Lawrence explained. Despite understanding that it was simply a part of her job, her emotional response was hard to shake. She sought reassurance from her mother, calling her to ask, “Will you just tell me it’s OK?”

Lawrence further elaborated on the vulnerability she experienced during the scene, describing it as the most exposed she had ever felt. “You want to do it real, you want everything to be real, but then… That was the most vulnerable I’ve ever been,” she reflected. The emotional toll was compounded by the media frenzy that followed Pratt’s public announcement of his divorce from Faris shortly after filming wrapped. This only fueled rumors about an off-screen romance between Lawrence and Pratt, adding to the pressure on the actress.

However, despite the initial awkwardness, Lawrence and Pratt managed to find some humor in the situation. The film’s space suits created an unintended obstacle during their first kiss, as their heads couldn’t quite reach each other due to the bulky costumes. “We had a good laugh about it, and we incorporated it into the movie,” Lawrence recalled. The ability to laugh at the absurdity of the moment helped break the tension and gave the scene a lighter, more playful tone.

The increasing presence of intimacy coordinators on film sets is largely seen as a response to the discomfort and potential harm that can arise from shooting intimate scenes. Experts in the field emphasize the importance of pre-signed agreements and rehearsals, ensuring that actors and directors are on the same page about what will happen when the camera starts rolling. “You need a pre-signed agreement on what will happen when the camera starts rolling, which can only be achieved with the help of an intimacy coordinator,” one expert explained. These professionals help manage the emotional and physical safety of the actors while allowing directors to achieve the desired effect with the least invasive touch.

For Lawrence, the experience of filming Passengers was a mix of vulnerability, discomfort, and humor. While she acknowledged the difficulties of shooting such a scene, she also found ways to cope, ultimately transforming a challenging moment into a part of her growth as both an actress and a person. As Hollywood continues to evolve in how it handles intimate scenes, the presence of intimacy coordinators will likely become even more crucial in helping actors navigate these moments with confidence and respect.