Gemma Arterton, known for her role as a Bond Girl in 2008’s Quantum of Solace, recently opened up about the pressure she felt when a she was asked to do an unexpected sex scene.
The 38-year-old actress recounted the experience, sharing her decision to refuse the scene, which had originally been scripted to happen off-screen.
Arterton, speaking to Radio Times, explained: ‘I remember being on a set once and the director said, “You’re going to s**g on the bed.”‘
She immediately objected, pointing out that the scene had been written as off-camera. ‘I’d never have accepted the role if it was going to be filmed,’ she clarified.
Despite this, the director pushed for the change on the day of shooting. ‘The other actor, God bless him, was mortified. There were very high-profile people there.’
Despite the pressure, Arterton stood her ground, insisting she wasn’t going to film the scene. Reflecting on her decision, she acknowledged that her confidence to push back came with age and experience.
‘I said, “You can’t do that, I’m flat out not doing it. I don’t care if you think I’m difficult,” but I only felt like I could say that because I was older,’ she said.
The star of The Critic admitted that, earlier in her career, it would have been harder to say no.
‘It would have been really hard [to say no] when I was younger. You might get the sack, or get a terrible reputation.’
Arterton also reflected on the way the industry has changed in recent years. ‘It was before we had intimacy coordinators, who are the go-between now—it’s a totally different landscape. Anything you’re not comfortable with is not going to happen.’
This change has been a significant step forward for many performers, as intimacy coordinators have become a standard presence on sets, ensuring actors feel safe and respected during vulnerable scenes.
While Arterton had a steamy on-screen moment with Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace, she shared that such scenes never truly resonated with her as an artist.
‘When I started acting, there was a lot of nudity. You were just expected to do it. It didn’t fulfil me, it wasn’t fun. It didn’t feel like I was flexing my acting muscles,’ she said.
The situation Arterton found herself in highlights the James Bond franchise’s history of questionable representation of women.
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