Kim Basinger Slams Intimacy Coordinators: “We Just Work It Out!”

In a recent interview, Kim Basinger, the iconic star of steamy films like *9 1/2 Weeks*, voiced her disdain for intimacy coordinators, the professionals now common on film sets when it comes to steamy scenes. After all, she mused, “I can’t imagine having somebody come up to me and say, ‘Do you mind if they put their hand here?'” According to Basinger, it’s all about the chemistry—or lack thereof—between actors. “Either we work it out or we don’t,” she stated, dismissing the need for a third-party presence in intimate spaces.

Basinger isn’t alone in her skepticism about the role intimacy coordinators play; she’s joined by a growing number of established stars who think these facilitators might be more of a hindrance than a help. Michael Douglas, famous for his risqué roles in films like *Basic Instinct* and *Fatal Attraction*, expressed similar sentiments, suggesting that intimacy coordinators might steal creative control from filmmakers. He admitted that while there have been “some terrible faux pas and harassment” in Hollywood, he still feels uneasy about outsiders influencing filmmaking.

Then there’s Sean Bean, whose views on intimacy coordinators surfaced in a *Sunday Times* interview where he worried that having a coordinator on set would ruin the spontaneity of love scenes. “It would inhibit me more,” he argued, adding that focusing too much on technical execution could derail the genuine connection between actors. But of course, amid this wave of dissent, intimacy coordinator Miriam Lucia, who worked on HBO’s *House of the Dragon*, pushed back. She feels that once comfort levels are established, the actual emotional depth of a scene can flourish, allowing for more creativity rather than stifling it.

This debate highlights a broader conversation in Hollywood about the balance between safety and artistic freedom. SAG-AFTRA has been vocal about advocating for intimacy coordinators since 2019, promoting their role to bolster actor safety and ease discomfort during sensitive scenes. As more actors share their perspectives, the discussion continues: Are intimacy coordinators an essential shield against past abuses in the industry or just an awkward extra in the creative process? Sounds like the jury’s still out on that one!

Sources: Celebrity Storm and Entertainment Weekly, Deadline, The Sunday Times

Image Credit: Attribution from EXIF: Artist: Tibrina Hobson