Florence Pugh On The Evolution Of Intimacy Coordination In Filmmaking

True growth necessitates the willingness to acknowledge a previous blind spot, allowing new structures to clarify old processes. Florence Pugh recently demonstrated this insight when discussing a necessary evolution in filmmaking: the critical role of the intimacy coordinator. Pugh, reflecting on her earlier experiences, noted that general discomfort often defined the process.

For many actors, tackling sex scenes remained inherently awkward for everyone on set, overshadowing the opportunity for storytelling. Her understanding of the job, much like the role itself, is actively changing through on-set experience.

Pugh articulated the transition from basic blocking to genuine character development, noting that good coordinators provide the specific narrative context often overlooked.

This detail is essential. She learned to focus on nuances: What kind of sex are these characters having? How long have they been together? These unique metrics profoundly shape the outcome. An intimacy sequence designed for a relationship stretching over ten years demands different touch, pacing, and proximity than a volatile new encounter.

Pugh admits that before working with a skilled coordinator, she "never thought of it like that before," missing the opportunity to build authentic resonance.

She realized, fundamentally, she had been missing the capacity to understand "the dance of intimacy" rather than simply executing a scripted physical action.

Working with an expert demonstrated that these scenes are not merely generic physical hurdles; they must reflect the deep, unique history between two people. Pugh’s assessment—that there are both "good ones and bad ones"—offers the most grounded take on a newly institutionalized role. It is through those who truly excel that she learned how profoundly effective and story-driven coordinated intimacy can be, replacing simple vulnerability with clearly defined, character-specific action.