Jump directly to the content

WHEN sex scenes pop up on the big screen they usually appear effortlessly steamy.

But according to the actors who star in them, the racy moments are anything but. 

When done well, sex scenes can be truly steamy - but behind the scenes filming them can be tricky
12
When done well, sex scenes can be truly steamy - but behind the scenes filming them can be trickyCredit: Alamy
James McAvoy revealed he 'smashed' his knee while filming a raunchy scene
12
James McAvoy revealed he 'smashed' his knee while filming a raunchy sceneCredit: AFP

Aside from having to deal with cameras capturing their every move, breath and awkward grunt, many of Hollywood’s finest say the raunchy moments often go wrong.

Among them is Scottish actor James McAvoy, who revealed he injured himself while for his new flick Turn Up The Sun!

“We were doing some weird thing and somebody grabbed me on the back of the neck to start biting my neck,” the 44-year-old told the Restless Natives podcast.

“I just decked it and smashed my knee real hard on the ground.

READ MORE ON SHOWBIZ

"I think that’s the only time I’ve been injured making a film.”

And the X-Men star isn’t alone in suffering a sex scene blunder - from awkwardness due to excessive perspiration to shock injuries, we reveal some of the worst. 

Whiplash

While filming famous kink flick 50 Shades Of Grey, Dakota Johnson described how she often felt “a bit shell-shocked” and it’s no wonder.

Not only was she filming multiple takes for raunchy scenes alongside Jamie Dornan, who played BDSM-loving billionaire Christian Grey, but she also suffered two injuries.

Dakota Johnson was left in pain after one sex scene that took 17 takes
12
Dakota Johnson was left in pain after one sex scene that took 17 takes

Recalling one of them, Dakota said: “I got whiplash once from him throwing me on the bed. So f***ing painful. And I wish we had a gag reel from the shoot.”

The actress revealed it took 17 takes to film that one scene and says she couldn’t move her neck after because her head had snapped backward and forwards so many times. 

Elizabeth Hurley, 58, strips off for steamy same-sex love scene in new movie - directed by her SON

Dakota, who played Anastasia Steele, fell foul of another onset blunder too.

She explained: “One time we were doing a scene in Christian’s kitchen. 

“I [thought it would be funny] to hide in a cabinet. I pulled the handle, but it was not a real cabinet. The entire set came down on me.”

Reflecting on her time on the 50 Shades series, Dakota said: “I did walk off the set feeling a bit shell-shocked. The drive home from work always helped me snap out of it... and a big glass of wine.”

Nude blunder

Anne Hathaway was a little embarrassed after stripping off when she didn't need to on set
12
Anne Hathaway was a little embarrassed after stripping off when she didn't need to on setCredit: Film Company

Anne Hathaway was left red-faced when she got “unnecessarily naked” on the set of Love And Other Drugs back in 2010.  

The rom-com focuses on characters Maggie Murdoch and Jamie Randall, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, who fall for each other after having a casual fling. 

It meant a lot of racy scenes for Anne and during one of them, it seems she may have got a little too into character. 

She recalled: “On the day I shot the scene where I have to remove my trench coat and be nude underneath, I thought we were filming.

"But it turned out we were just rehearsing and I got unnecessarily naked in front of a lot of people, but hey, I just did my job."

'Punched co-star'

Margot Robbie admitted she got 'carried away' during one intimate scene with Alexander Skarsgard
12
Margot Robbie admitted she got 'carried away' during one intimate scene with Alexander SkarsgardCredit: Warner Bros

While filming one raunchy scene for The Legend Of Tarzan, Margot Robbie admitted she got a little “carried away” and accidentally hit her co-star Alexander Skarsgard

Director David Yates explained it followed him asking the actress: “Just slap Alex while you’re making love, just kind of give him a punch.” 

He wanted to create “an earthy, sensual moment” in the film to show her character - Jane  - was “enjoying sex” with Tarzan but it seems she may have taken things a little too far.

David said: “The only bruise [Alexander] picked up during the entire shoot was probably that punch from Margot, which says a lot about her feistiness.”

It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. If anyone is ever planning on having sex on top of a pile of cash: don’t

Margot Robbie

Margot tried to downplay the hit in a chat with Buro247, insisting: “I didn’t injure Alexander and I didn’t punch him in the face, at least not hard.”

She added: “He's a pretty strong guy, he can take it. We just got carried away a bit.”

'Million paper cuts' 

There were several saucy scenes for Margot Robbie and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf Of Wall Street
12
There were several saucy scenes for Margot Robbie and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf Of Wall Street
The actress revealed this sex scene was particularly painful
12
The actress revealed this sex scene was particularly painfulCredit: Supplied by LMK

It wasn’t Margot’s only sex scene blunder - another occurred while filming a frisky romp on a bed covered in cash with Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf Of Wall Street. 

“I got a million paper cuts on my back from all that money!” she told . 

“It’s not as glamorous as it sounds. If anyone is ever planning on having sex on top of a pile of cash: don’t.

“Maybe real money is a bit softer but the fake money is like paper and when I got up off the bed, I turned around to get my robe and everyone gasped. 

“I said, ‘What is it?’ And they said, ‘You look like you’ve been whipped a million times. Your back is covered in a thousand red scratches.’”

Excessive sweating

Robert Pattinson had a raunchy moment in Map To The Stars but it didn't go to plan
12
Robert Pattinson had a raunchy moment in Map To The Stars but it didn't go to planCredit: Handout
His character had sex with Julianne Moore in the 2014 film
12
His character had sex with Julianne Moore in the 2014 filmCredit: You Tube

With so many cameras focusing on them, it’s no wonder some actors get a little hot under the collar while filming sex scenes.

And for Robert Pattinson, his lovemaking scene with Hollywood legend Julianne Moore in the 2014 film Map To The Stars was even more awkward due to excessive perspiration.  

He told Heat magazine: "I sweat like a f***ing crazy person, I was trying to literally catch drops of sweat to stop them hitting her back. 

“Afterwards she was like, 'Are you having a panic attack?' It was so embarrassing."

I place the hand on my breast and they yell cut and he immediately walks over to a garbage can and throws up

Lizzy Caplan

Astonishingly, Robert also revealed that his genuine orgasm was filmed for a scene while playing Salvador Dali in the 2008 film Little Ashes. 

Robert claimed he had to take extreme measures on camera because faking the euphoric moment wasn’t convincing enough and later he feared it would ruin his career. 

When quizzed about why he couldn’t have pretended, he said: “Try it. I can tell you right now, no chance. It just doesn’t work.”

Bug hell

Michael Sheen felt a bit worse for wear during this sex scene
12
Michael Sheen felt a bit worse for wear during this sex scene

Most actors would expect a few awkward moments and giggles during a sex scene but one thing few could predict is a co-star vomiting.

That’s unfortunately what happened to Lizzy Caplan while acting alongside Michael Sheen in the US TV show Masters Of Sex.

She told The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien: “I begin the unbuttoning of the blouse and I notice that I’m very nervous and my hands are shaking.

“Then I grab his hands and I notice his hands are shaking and a little clammy, and he looks bad and nervous and shakey and it’s making me feel a little better.

“And we complete the scene, I place the hand on my breast and they yell cut and he immediately walks over to a garbage can and throws up.

“I later found out he had food poisoning but in the moment there’s no way to digest that in a reasonable way. I thought it was a direct cause-and-effect situation.

“My whole self-confidence plummeted to the ground and I realised I’m a monster and anyone who touches me is going to immediately start vomiting and that’s the way it’s going to be.”

'Near-shooting'

An on-set tussle broke out on the set of Another Time, Another Place, which starred Lana Turner and Sean Connery
12
An on-set tussle broke out on the set of Another Time, Another Place, which starred Lana Turner and Sean ConneryCredit: Alamy
Lana's jealous boyfriend Johnny Stompanato stormed on to the set and threatened Sean
12
Lana's jealous boyfriend Johnny Stompanato stormed on to the set and threatened SeanCredit: Rex

Years before playing James Bond, Sean Connery had a real-life 007-style moment when the jealous partner of his co-star showed up on set shortly before they filmed a sex scene. 

While shooting the 1957 film Another Time, Another Place, it was rumoured the Scottish star and Hollywood actress Lana Turner were having an affair. 

Her furious boyfriend Johnny Stompanato, who was a mob enforcer for the US gangster Mickey Cohen, flew over to London and reportedly stormed onto the set with a gun.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

It’s claimed he pointed the weapon at Sean and told him to get his hands off Lana, only for the former bodybuilder and karate black belt to disarm him.

Sean reportedly grabbed Johnny’s arm, twisted his wrist until he dropped the gun and hit him before the tough guy ran away. 

More on TV and film sex scenes

READ more about the nation's favourite and most shocking sex scenes below:

Topics