Jonathan Bailey Just Revealed The One Weird Prop That Makes 'Bridgerton' Sex Scenes Work
Bridgerton is coming back on March 25, and we could NOT be more excited.
It's been over a year since Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings, fell in love with Daphne Bridgerton and made all our hearts melt. Now, the Bridgertons are back - and this time, it's Anthony's turn to find love.
The show is interesting from a cast perspective because it doesn't maintain the same lead characters from season to season - Daphne may have been the star in season one, but in season two she's taking a backseat to her other siblings, especially Anthony, who is making it his mission to find a suitable wife this season. Of course, that means no more random sex with opera singers - but it's Bridgerton, so it definitely doesn't mean no sex period.
To the contrary: Jonathan Bailey, the actor behind the stubborn-yet-somehow-still-charming Anthony Bridgerton, went so far as to call the sex scenes "the heart of the show," and in a show like this one...he's kind of right.
It's important, therefore, to get the intimacy perfect, and to do that you have to make sure all the actors involved in those intimate scenes comfortable. To do this, Bridgerton has an extremely dedicated intimacy coach, and Bailey told Radio Times that they've been making real strides in that area since they started.
"It's amazing how that whole industry has just come on, even in a year. There are new tricks to the trade - little cushions - and it's amazing what you can do with a half-inflated netball."
A netball, for those who are unaware, netball is a sport, and a netball is sort of like a cross between a volleyball and a basketball. Don't worry: He explained why.
"If there are two people doing a sex scene, the rule is they must have three barriers separating them and there are certain acts where a half-inflated netball can allow for movement without having to connect physically. It's pretty silly really and we have some hilarious moments, but it makes it less awkward."
Hey, they say the true mark of a good partner is if you can laugh during sex and not feel weird about it, and it seems like these two did plenty of laughing - we're certain that will translate to their on-screen romance.
And what about Anthony's love interest? (Even fake sex is a two-person act, after all.) Actress Simone Ashley, who plays the role of Kate Sharma, says she was entirely comfortable the whole time they were doing the scenes.
"I wasn't apprehensive. I've always been really confident in my sexuality and in my body. Like most teenage girls, there were years where I was insecure and in my head about myself, but I've learnt to really have fun with it, enjoy myself and love myself more.
"I am also confident that I can speak up if I'm not feeling comfortable with anything on set. We were in a very safe environment and we worked with an incredible intimacy coordinator who encouraged us to portray what it is for the female character to experience pleasure. That's important for us to see, because it's not like it doesn't happen."
You can see exactly what she means by pleasure when Bridgerton season two finally hits Netflix next Friday.
