Brief
Cynthia Erivo urges more credit for intimacy coordinators at London Film Festival
The actress praised intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot and called for broader conversation on consent and Black women's experiences.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Cynthia Erivo used a London Film Festival screen talk on Monday to stress the importance of intimacy coordinators on set, saying they receive "not enough credit" for their work.
What happened
Erivo, starring as defense lawyer Tessa Ensler in the film "Prima Facie," addressed the audience after the film’s U.K. debut at the London Film Fest on Tuesday. The movie, adapted from Suzie Miller’s stage play, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last month and follows a lawyer who is sexually assaulted by a colleague.
What the reports add
Variety reported that Erivo described the assault scene as "really hard to film" and credited intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot for creating a safe space. She explained that she had to learn to "be in your body but not there" to protect herself during the shoot. Erivo also noted that Daniel Ings, who plays the assaulting lawyer, initiated conversations about mutual safety from the start.
What was said
"Lizzy, our intimacy coordinator, was really helpful with creating a space that felt very safe," Erivo told Variety. She added, "I had to understand what it was like to be in your body but not there, so finding what that looked like for me, where you’re there but you have to check out to stay safe." Erivo praised Ings, saying, "He from the beginning was very, very kind and immediately wanted to have a conversation about how we could be protective of one another." She concluded, "I think not enough credit is given to intimacy coordinators and they’re often given a hard time for the work they have to do on a set. But the work that they do is incredibly important. It isn’t just about choreographing a sex scene, a love scene, it’s sometimes about how to not just choreograph these really hard, harrowing scenes, but make sure everyone comes back to their bodies safely." Erivo also linked the film’s themes to broader issues, stating, "We already have preconceived notions about how Black women, particularly, experience pain… Rarely do you see films where a Black woman has experienced this in this way, and I think now we can have a conversation about that as a whole because we’re often left out of that conversation."
How it came about
Erivo, who also produced "Prima Facie," said she felt an immediate pull to the project, describing it as "more important than I was even aware of." The film’s production incorporated an intimacy coordinator from the outset, reflecting a growing industry trend toward safeguarding actors during sensitive scenes.
Key facts
- Cynthia Erivo spoke at a London Film Festival screen talk on Monday about intimacy coordinators. (variety.com)
- Erivo stars as Tessa Ensler in "Prima Facie," a film adapted from Suzie Miller's stage play. (variety.com)
- Lizzy Talbot served as the intimacy coordinator for the film. (variety.com)
- Erivo highlighted the need for more credit for intimacy coordinators and linked the film to discussions on consent and Black women's experiences. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Cynthia Erivo Says ‘Not Enough Credit Is Given to Intimacy Coordinators’: ‘They’re Often Given a Hard Time’ but ‘What They Do Is Important’”
