In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Christopher Atkins, one of the stars of the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon, shared details about his romance with co-star Brooke Shields during filming.
The film, directed by Randal Kleiser, tells the story of two young people who are stranded on a tropical island and must navigate their way through survival and adolescence.
Atkins, who was 18 at the time of filming, disclosed that Kleiser had a unique method for creating chemistry between the two young actors.
He placed a photo of Shields above Atkins’s bed in their shared living quarters on the set, with the intention of fostering attraction between them.
According to Atkins, Kleiser believed that this would help to create authentic on-screen chemistry between the two characters.
The director’s plan seems to have been successful, as Atkins revealed that he and Shields developed a close friendship and experienced a “romantic-innocence sort of romance” during the early stages of filming.
However, Shields was just 14 years old at the time, and the age difference between the two actors has been a source of controversy in the years since the film’s release.
Despite the challenges presented by the film’s isolated setting and primitive living conditions, Atkins and Shields were able to bond over the shared experience of making the movie.
According to Atkins, the two spent their first two weeks on the set living on a boat and were shuttled back and forth to the filming location.
After that, they moved into tents and lived in them for four and a half months.
The Blue Lagoon was a major commercial and critical success upon its release, and both Atkins and Shields received widespread acclaim for their performances.
The film remains a beloved classic of the coming-of-age genre and has continued to garner attention over the years, particularly for its depiction of the romance between its young leads.
In his interview with Winfrey, Atkins reflected on his experience making The Blue Lagoon and the enduring impact of the film on his career.
He also discussed his thoughts on the age difference between himself and Shields and the controversy that it has generated.
The interview with Atkins is set to air on Winfrey’s Where Are They Now special this weekend, offering fans of the film an opportunity to learn more about the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the film and the experiences of its cast.
The Blue Lagoon tells the story of two young people, played by Shields and Atkins, who are stranded on a tropical island after a shipwreck.
As they struggle to survive and navigate the challenges of adolescence, they develop a close bond and eventually fall in love.
The film was directed by Kleiser and was released in 1980 to widespread acclaim.
In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Atkins discussed his experience making the film and the enduring impact it has had on his career.
He also addressed the controversy surrounding the age difference between himself and Shields, who was 14 years old at the time of filming.
The interview with Atkins is set to air on Winfrey’s Where Are They Now special this weekend, offering fans of The Blue Lagoon an opportunity to learn more about the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the film and the experiences of its cast.
The film remains a beloved classic of the coming-of-age genre and continues to garner attention for its depiction of the romance between its young leads.
