Amanda Seyfried Rejected TV Role Due to Sex Scenes, Citing Discomfort
The actress stated she is increasingly unwilling to perform intimate scenes with strangers as she gets older.
Actress Amanda Seyfried revealed that she turned down a television series because it featured frequent sex scenes, stating that she has become increasingly uncomfortable with performing such intimate moments as she has aged.
"I passed on a show where I would have had to have sex all the time because of the sex. Doesn't matter [who it's with]… I don't want to do it. I'm uncomfortable with it. I'm not into it right now," Seyfried said during a conversation with Alec Baldwin at the Hamptons International Film Festival, according to People Magazine.
Seyfried's stance reflects a growing trend among some Hollywood actresses to set firmer boundaries regarding on-screen nudity and simulated sex. Gina Gershon previously told Fox News Digital that she rejected a lead role in the 1981 horror film "Friday the 13th Part 2" due to concerns about an exploitative topless scene.
The Oscar-nominated actress, who is now 40, indicated that her perspective on portraying romantic relationships on screen has shifted considerably from earlier in her career. "Maybe if [the project] came along again [at a later point], maybe I'd be in a different space. But I don't want to deal with being naked with a stranger," Seyfried stated.
Seyfried previously shared that she felt pressured to participate in uncomfortable scenes when she was younger. In a 2022 interview with Porter magazine, she described performing scenes without underwear at age 19 out of fear of upsetting people and jeopardizing her career.
Other actresses have voiced similar experiences. Christina Ricci revealed on "The View" that she was once threatened with legal action after refusing to perform an intimate scene in a particular manner. Keira Knightley also discussed how motherhood influenced her decision to include no-nudity clauses in her contracts, granting her more control over intimate scenes.
Not all actresses share Seyfried's current approach. Sydney Sweeney reportedly declined a suggestion from "Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson to reduce nudity in the show's third season, believing the explicit scenes were integral to her character's narrative.
Intimacy coordinators have become more prevalent in Hollywood to help establish safety and consent for actors during the filming of intimate scenes. Jessica Steinrock, an intimacy coordinator, noted that the role gained significant traction around 2018 when HBO committed to having coordinators on all film sets.
According to SAG-AFTRA guidelines, performers must be notified in advance about expected nudity or simulated sex acts, and producers typically must provide written nudity riders at least 48 hours before filming. The union also established a collective bargaining agreement that covers intimacy coordinators starting in 2025.
Seyfried, a mother of two, explained that becoming a parent has further reinforced her commitment to establishing professional and personal boundaries. "I have kids now who are paying attention to what I do, and so I have to be less of a pushover," she said.