Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting’s lawsuit against Paramount for child abuse in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet highlights the myriad complexities involved in filming intimate scenes. Thanks to modern legislation on child sexual abuse, 55 years on some of the issues raised in this case are no longer risks; but many dangers remain in the television and film sector today.
I have worked in the industry for almost as long as an intimacy coordinator can have, given that the role officially originated in 2017. In that time, I’ve choreographed a wide range of intimate scenes – from sci-fi orgies to medieval childbirth. I’ve worked with child actors (who are defined in the UK as those under school leaving age) in scenes where consent and boundaries are needed, for example where children are cuddled or kissed by adult actors playing their parents.
