Florence Pugh Recalls an Awful Incident While Shooting Her Controversial S*x Scene With Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer
While filming an intimate scene with Cillian Murphy for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Florence Pugh encountered an embarrassing incident when the camera unexpectedly broke down. Despite the awkward timing, Pugh handled the moment with grace and humor.
In the midst of shooting the nude s*x scene between Pugh’s Jean Tatlock and Murphy’s J. Robert Oppenheimer, Pugh revealed that the camera broke when they were both naked and it was not ideal timing. With the actors exposed and the filming disrupted, Pugh turned an uncomfortable situation into a learning opportunity.
Did the Incident Make Shooting Difficult?
The scene in question depicts Oppenheimer and Tatlock rekindling their earlier affair upon reconnecting at a party. Caught up in passion, the pair proceeded to have s*x as the conversation turned deeply philosophical, with Oppenheimer reciting the famous “destroyer of worlds” quote from the Bhagavad Gita. It’s at the height of this emotionally and physically intimate moment that the camera equipment unexpectedly failed, forcing an abrupt pause in filming.
According to The Hollywood Reporter Florence Pugh said,
“In the middle of our sex scene, the camera broke. No one knows this, but it did. Our camera broke when we were both naked, and it was not ideal timing.”
Rather than get flustered, Florence Pugh used her quick wit to handle the camera malfunction professionally. “I’m like, ‘What’s going on with the shutter here, buddy?’” she quipped to the technician, arriving to fix the issue.
While likely embarrassing for those involved, Pugh’s humorous account of the event charmed the fans.
Her gracious conduct allowed filming to resume swiftly once repairs were completed. By complimenting the knowledgable crew Christopher Nolan had assembled, Pugh made it clear that while the timing was inopportune, she appreciated everyone’s efforts in realizing such an ambitious historical drama. Her positive attitude facilitated smooth shooting overall.
How Did Florence Pugh Feel About Filming S*x Scenes For Oppenheimer?
Shooting intimate scenes is rarely easy for actors, and doing so nude alongside relative strangers only heightens discomfort. Yet Pugh has emphasized feeling safe on Nolan’s closed set, calling the experience “very gentle” and “not vulgar.” Her primary concern was authentically depicting complex female figures like Tatlock, a communist later linked romantically with Oppenheimer.
While the nature of their relationship remains ambiguous, Pugh convincingly humanized Tatlock’s struggles with mental illness and political persecution. Her moving performance opposite Cillian Murphy earned Pugh accolades despite appearing in just eight of Oppenheimer’s whopping 159-minute runtime.
Did the Camera Incident Impact Florence Pugh’s Working Relationship with Cillian Murphy?
If anything, joking through the camera breakdown likely brought Pugh and Murphy closer together. Both detail-oriented performers, their commitment never wavered, impressing Nolan immensely.
And rather than let nudity intimidate them, the co-stars intentionally blocked out their s*x scenes ahead of time to eliminate discomfort on the day. Murphy has specifically praised Pugh’s “ferocious talent,” while Pugh emphasizes relishing the challenge of working with esteemed colleagues like Murphy and Nolan.
So, from all accounts, Pugh and Murphy enjoyed a harmonious dynamic enhanced by open communication and mutual respect. Their poignant onscreen chemistry remains a highlight of Oppenheimer. While shooting nude love scenes is hardly ideal, a bit of humor helped Pugh and the cast make light of a tricky situation.
