Jennifer Lawrence Opens Up About the Sex Scene in Passengers That Left Her Shaken — and How Hollywood Is Changing
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
When Passengers hit theaters in 2016, it was marketed as a glossy, big-budget sci-fi romance. But for Jennifer Lawrence, the experience of filming it carried an emotional toll she didn’t anticipate — one that continues to resonate in the broader conversation about how Hollywood handles intimate scenes.
A First Real Sex Scene, and an Unprepared Mindset
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence described the film’s pivotal intimate moment with co-star Chris Pratt as her “first real sex scene.” The actress admitted she was “really, really drunk” before filming — not out of recklessness, but because she was grappling with intense discomfort.
“It was really awkward,” she recalled, adding that kissing a married man felt deeply unsettling, even in a fictional context. Pratt was not to blame, she emphasized, but the absence of emotional preparation left her feeling mentally unready. The experience drove home the point that while sex scenes may be routine in the industry, they can be profoundly taxing without the right safeguards.
Public Scrutiny Added to the Strain
If the shoot itself was difficult, the aftermath brought more strain. Around the film’s release, Pratt announced his divorce from actress Anna Faris. Given the romantic plot of Passengers, tabloids quickly pounced, speculating that Lawrence and Pratt’s onscreen intimacy had spilled into real life.
Lawrence publicly denied the rumors, but the swirl of gossip only compounded the awkwardness. It underscored the often overlooked reality that actors must navigate not only the logistics of filming intimate scenes, but also the personal and public fallout that can follow.
How Hollywood Is Changing the Rules
In recent years, the industry has begun to address these issues through the introduction of intimacy coordinators — a role designed to ensure that sex scenes are handled with the same meticulous safety measures as stunts or fight choreography.
Some, like actor Sean Bean, have questioned whether such coordination “spoils the spontaneity” of a performance. But intimacy professionals counter that it’s about protecting everyone involved. As one coordinator explained: “Actors can still be spontaneous — the coordination just ensures safety and well-being. An action scene may feel ‘spontaneous’ to one actor, but to another, it may feel like an assault.”
The process involves pre-agreed boundaries, rehearsals, and open discussions about the director’s vision, with an emphasis on using the least invasive physical contact possible to achieve the desired effect. The goal, advocates say, is to make sex scenes “just like any other” — planned, respectful, and free from unnecessary emotional strain.
A Lesson for the Industry
Lawrence’s candid account of her experience on Passengers serves as a reminder of why these changes matter. Sex scenes may never be truly “sexy” for the actors filming them, but they also shouldn’t be as mentally taxing as hers was.
Her story captures a moment of transition for Hollywood — from a culture that often left actors to fend for themselves in intimate situations, to one that’s beginning to recognize the need for preparation, consent, and care.
For Jennifer Lawrence, the Passengers shoot may have been a trial by fire. For the industry at large, it’s another case study in why intimacy coordination isn’t just a safeguard — it’s an essential part of modern filmmaking.
