Scarlett Johansson has shared her experience of filming a simulated sex scene in the 2013 science-fiction movie ‘Her’.
The actress said that the shoot was “bizarre” and “gross,” and that her co-star Joaquin Phoenix left the set during the scene.
Phoenix played the lead character Theodore Twombly in the film, which follows an introverted man who develops a relationship with his artificial intelligence assistant Samantha, voiced by Johansson.
During the podcast interview, Johansson recounted how she, Phoenix and director Spike Jonze went into a studio to record fake orgasms for the scene.
She said that Phoenix found the process upsetting and ultimately had to leave the studio, saying that he “needed a break”.
Johansson explained that the situation was uncomfortable for her too, saying that “You don’t want to hear what you sound like having an orgasm. It’s so gross, right?”
She added that she had to become “that actor that’s like, ‘Let’s get dirty.’ I have to, otherwise I’ll be petrified.”
Johansson also commented on the fact that Samantha was originally voiced by English actress Samantha Morton, who she replaced after the initial production had wrapped.
The actress went on to discuss the hyper-sexualisation she experienced at the start of her career, saying that she felt “objectified and pigeonholed”.
She claimed that this led to her being offered work that she didn’t want to do, and being put in situations that were “not age appropriate”.
Johansson contrasted this with younger actors, who she claimed were allowed to be “all these different things”.
She added that actors today were less likely to be pigeonholed, saying that “people are much more dynamic”.
‘Her’ was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Production Design.
Johansson’s performance as Samantha was widely praised, despite the fact that she never appeared on screen in the film.
The actress was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as the AI assistant, becoming the first performer to be recognised in this way.
She went on to play the role of Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with ‘Iron Man 2’ in 2010.
Phoenix, meanwhile, has been receiving critical acclaim for his role in ‘Joker’, which has been praised for its depiction of mental illness and its exploration of societal issues.
The film has also attracted controversy, with some critics accusing it of glorifying violence and others arguing that it perpetuates negative stereotypes of mental illness.
The film won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, and has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director.
Phoenix is widely considered a frontrunner for the Best Actor award.
