Are sex scenes “gratuitous, graphic and unnecessary”? 

Actress Joanna Lumley has recently come out against them, calling them “rude and horrible”. 

Superman star Henry Cavill broadly agrees and said they are “overused” in modern cinema. 

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, columnist Brenda Power said she was “so relieved” people are finally speaking out against them. 

“Is it not the most excruciating thing in the world to watch a TV drama with your adult kids when a completely unnecessary sex scene comes on?” she said. 

“I can’t remember what we were watching recently but I got sent to make the tea.” 

Even without her children present, Ms Power said she would rather not watch them. 

“I just don’t see the need for it anymore,” she said. 

“If anybody wants to watch porn, they’ve got their smartphone in their pockets. 

“If you want to see a drama on television or in the cinema, that’s what you’re there for. 

“It’s very rare that any of these scenes do actually move the action along, I believe.” 

'Embarrassing'

Ms Power also feels the film industry needs to show more consideration towards actors who might feel uncomfortable performing sex scenes. 

“I feel sorry for the actors,” she said. 

“I don’t want to see their bits. 

“I heard Paul Mescal complaining that he was upset that people say to him, ‘I saw your willy.’ 

“Well, they did, I’m sorry to tell you, the whole world did and that is embarrassing for them.” 

Jerry Hall and Josh Cohen at the Gielgud Theatre, London W1 08/08/2000. Image: Alamy.com

Having said that, Ms Power is not against all sex scenes and thought they were tastefully done in the Netflix drama One Day. 

“That’s the only one recently where I actually felt you did need to see that particular sex scene,” she said. 

“It was done really tastefully, there were no boobs or bums waved in your faces, it was just really tender.

“Most of the time, it’s gratuitous and graphic and unnecessary.” 

To keep awkwardness to a minimum, many film producers now employ ‘intimacy coordinators’ who help actors rehearse sex scenes before filming takes place.

Main image: Two actors in bed together. Picture by: Alamy.com