OnlyOnAOL: Christian Slater on sex scenes: They're 'odd and uncomfortable'

Updated

By: Donna Freydkin

Christian Slater has built up a formidable body of work as an actor, from the dark, subversive "Heathers" and "Pump Up the Volume" to his Golden Globe-winning turn as the ghost of Elliot's father on the USA hit "Mr. Robot."

But get ready to see an extremely, and we do mean extremely, different side of him in "King Cobra," as a predatory, rapacious porn producer, opposite James Franco and Garrett Clayton.

"There's a creepiness element to it. This is a guy who is closeted. The people closest to him didn't know what he was up to behind closed doors. I tapped into the pain and anguish," says Slater.

Director Justin Kelly was a Slater aficionado going back years. "'Pump Up the Volume' filmed in my hometown. I always thought it was at my high school but it was the rival high school. I was such a fan and so grateful he'd read the script. We had a dinner. He's kind and smart guy. And handsome. Sexy," he says.

For Slater, "it's been a great couple of years. I'm happy with the show and to get this opportunity to work with you and James was something I'd wanted to do for a long time."

The role required intimate scenes, something that for Slater was just part of the job.

"Regardless, whether it's with a man or a woman, they're odd and uncomfortable things to do," he says. "Justin and I talked at our first meeting and I felt very safe with him that he'd handle everything in a gracious and dignified manner. He did say James was going to handle the lion's share and that tapped into my competitive nature. I wanted to tackle some of my own and have some of these opportunities myself. We just went for it."

The same goes for his role on "Robot," which has so many twists and turns that people frequently approach Slater to ask for spoilers. "That happens a lot. People are certainly intrigued. I've been very fortunate to have stumbled my way into a wonderful situation," he says.

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