I May Destroy You’s Terry actress reveals why she resorted to body double who works in porn for intimate sex scenes
I MAY Destroy You actress Weruche Opia does not like to film sex scenes and used an adult film star as a her body double in the hit series.
The acclaimed BBC drama has become a hit with viewers as it tackles topics of sexual assault, consent and race in a way never before seen on TV.
The show’s creator, Michaela Coel – who also plays lead character Arabella – revealed how important it was for her to make sure her actors felt comfortable and proud of any intimate scenes they were in.
She told Express.co.uk: “I think you have to be willing as content makers now more than ever to change things.
“The minute you sense discomfort in actors, there are other actors in this show, sometimes you just have to be looking and trying, we just have to keep trying.
“So it’s about seeing ‘Does this person seem a little bit uncomfortable?’ and going in and just checking and… I don’t know if we’re always gonna get it right.”
The Bafta winner added: “But I think the point is, we have to keep actively, relentlessly trying to make sure that by the time this comes on TV and the actors are watching it, they feel proud of the thing that they were in rather than cringing at a memory where they had to do something that they felt really uncomfortable doing, because it ruins it for them.”
Viewers have praised the show’s portrayal of sexual encounters from period sex, threesomes and scenes of sexual assault.
To make sure they got it right and everyone felt safe, Michaela hire intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien who most recently worked on the raunchy Normal People.
Actress Weruche Opia (Bad Education) stars as Arabella’s best friend, Terry, who works hard to help her friend get through her trauma.
Terry also has a few of her own sex scenes in the drama, but did not want to be in them herself.
She said: “I actually had the body double for my sex scene because I’m not comfortable doing sex or sexual stuff on screen and stuff. So I was offered a body double and I took that.
“I also met Ita because… speaking to everyone involved in it, and I felt you know, I was comfortable enough to have an alternative. And, it all worked out really about being comfortable.”
Michaela added: “Your (Opia) body double, her name is Lana and she was absolutely incredible.
“She works in porn and she was so… she’s so talented and so giving. And she had a great time.
“This was like, for her a slightly different experience and she got to come to Italy!”
Michaela’s latest show, I May Destroy You, has left viewers glued to their screens for the terrifying yet “relatable” depiction of sexual assault.
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Her character, Annabelle, was drugged and raped and fans praised the gritty plot for not shying away from. hard-hitting issues.
Michaela has told how her new drama was inspired by her own real-life spiking incident, which chimes with the realistic portrayal.
It might be quite triggering for those who have experienced similar crimes.
There are a range of organisations that can offer help, including Rape Crisis who can be contacted for free on 0808 802 9999.
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