Sean Bean’s ‘Snowpiercer’ Co-Star Lena Hall Responds to Intimacy Coordinator Comments

K.J. Yossman

Sean Bean’s “Snowpiercer” co-star Lena Hall has responded to his remarks that intimacy coordinators “spoil the spontaneity” of a sex scene.

Bean made the comments to the U.K.’s Times Magazine in an interview to promote his latest BBC series, “Marriage.” “I think the natural way lovers behave would be ruined by someone bringing it right down to a technical exercise,” he told the magazine, adding that Hall, with whom he’d had a number of intimate and nude scenes in “Snowpiercer,” “was up for anything” because of her “musical cabaret background.”

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Bean is best known for his turns as Ned Stark in “Game of Thrones” and Boromir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy while Hall has starred in numerous Broadway productions, including shows such as “Kinky Boots” and “Cats” as well as making on-screen appearances in shows including “Girls” and “All My Children.”

In response to Variety’s article covering Bean’s comments, Hall posted an eight-part Twitter thread in which she said: “Just because I am in theater (not cabaret, but I do perform them every once in a while) does not mean that I am up for anything. Seriously does depend on the other actor, the scene we are about to do, the director, and whatever crew has to be in there to film it.”

She also defended Bean, saying he is “an awesome actor and made me feel not only comfortable but also like I had a true acting partner in those bizarre scenes. It was us against the world and we were gonna tell that story.”

“If I feel comfortable with my scene partner and with others in the room then I won’t need an intimacy coordinator,” Hall continued. “BUT if there is any part of me that is feeling weird, gross, over exposed etc… I will either challenge the necessity of the scene or I’ll want an IC [intimacy coordinator].”

Other actors also responded to Bean’s comments, with “Westside Story” star Rachel Zegler who tweeted: “intimacy coordinators establish an environment of safety for actors. i was extremely grateful for the one we had on WSS— they showed grace to a newcomer like myself + educated those around me who’ve had years of experience. spontaneity in intimate scenes can be unsafe. wake up.”

And “iZombie’s” Rahul Kohli also joined the discussion online, posting about his experience with intimacy coordinators. “I’ve worked with a few intimacy coordinators now, and while ever so slightly embarrassing at first, are essential for protecting our safety, making us comfortable, and opening up constructive dialogue between the actors and director when scenes call for ‘intimacy,'” Kohli tweeted.

Intimacy coordinators have become increasingly prevalent in film and television following the advent of the #MeToo movement, in which numerous female actors detailed the uncomfortable and sometimes even unlawful interactions they had experienced on sets. Like stunt coordinators, the job of an intimacy coordinator is to choreograph a scene in a safe and appropriate way.

In the U.K., the head of crew union Bectu Philippa Childs also responded to Bean’s assessment of intimacy coordinators. “It’s disappointing to hear these comments from such a screen favourite and established actor without acknowledging his position of privilege and the vulnerabilities and challenges many in the industry, particularly young and less experienced actors, may face as they engage in shooting intimate scenes,” said Childs.

“Intimacy coordination provides vital support for artists during the preparation, rehearsal and shooting of intimate action and its increasing use is a welcome move to further establish an environment of safety for actors on set. These comments display a disservice to intimacy co-ordinators and to the knowledge and contributions of the trained, skilled professionals our members who carry out this work are. We applaud their commitment to keeping everyone safe and respected on set.”

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