Ita O’Brien

Love on screen can often seem unrealistic, from its scenes of attraction at first sight and dancing spontaneously in the kitchen to falling asleep side by side – and looking great doing so.

But how do we create these intimate moments of connection in real life, and what lessons do we take, and abandon, from how we see sex and intimacy portrayed on screen?

Intimacy coordinator Ita O’Brien, who has worked on shows including Sex Education and I May Destroy You, and has created intimacy guidelines adopted by HBO, Netflix and the BBC, explains how she helps actors create authentic sex scenes. She discusses how we can use those techniques to rebuild a healthier connection with our bodies, create a safe space for exploration and rethink how we navigate sex and intimacy.