Actor Colin Firth is set to portray Dr. Alex Comfort, the British author of the groundbreaking 1972 sex manual "The Joy of Sex," in a new film titled "Comfort and Joy." The movie, directed by Sharon Maguire, explores the unconventional personal life of Dr. Comfort, who was involved in an open marriage and formed a 'throuple' with his wife, Ruth, and his friend Jane Henderson.
Firth, 65, stars alongside Laura Linney, 62, who plays Ruth, and Julianne Moore, 65, who portrays Jane. Filming for "Comfort and Joy" began last week. The film's narrative centers on Dr. Comfort's relationship with both women, which served as the inspiration for his best-selling manual.
"The Joy of Sex," published in 1972, became a global phenomenon, selling over 12 million copies worldwide and spending more than 300 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. The manual was known for its frank and sex-positive tone, illustrated with detailed drawings of sexual activity, many of which were based on the experiences of Dr. Comfort and Henderson.
Dr. Comfort, a physician, was married to Ruth in 1943. He later became intimately involved with Henderson, a librarian and collaborator, leading to an open marriage. He reportedly divided his time between the two women, spending specific days with each. While Dr. Comfort is said to have enjoyed this arrangement, sources suggest both women experienced unhappiness within the love triangle.
Discussions for the film began approximately nine years ago. Dr. Comfort's son, Nicholas, who holds the film rights, is serving as a consultant. Exclusive images from the set show Firth, Linney, and Moore filming scenes outside a Hindu temple in Wembley, North London, reportedly recreating a trip the trio took to India in 1962.
"The Joy of Sex" was groundbreaking for its time, addressing topics such as oral sex, exotic positions, and practices like sexual bondage and swinging. The publishers commissioned artists to create illustrations for the manual, employing pornographic models and later enlisting illustrator Charles Raymond and his wife Edeltraud to pose for the explicit depictions.
Dr. Comfort divorced Ruth in 1973, the year after "The Joy of Sex" was published, and subsequently married Jane. He was estranged from his son Nicholas for many years, with their relationship only rekindled after Dr. Comfort suffered a stroke in 1991. Both Dr. Comfort and Ruth passed away in 2000, with Jane also dying that same year.