# Have actors really had sex on camera in a non-porn Hollywood movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435 "2002-10-01T18:55:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/41 "2002-10-09T18:57:43Z")
Um…what do you mean, **willabee**? He was minding his own business in a scene, and unbeknownst to all the crewmembers, etc, jerked off and came on Nicole’s back? Or they were shooting a faux sex scene between Keitel and Kidman, and he got so excited that he came on her back? No offense, but that is utterly preposterous. I will need a cite including notarized signatures of all parties involved before I believe that one. Oh, and welcome to the boards, I guess… ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/42 "2002-10-09T19:01:03Z")
Arrgh…Lost this the first time…Re-posting in short format… David Bowie and that girl in the music video _China Girl_. Read an article in Rolling Stone I think. Seemed real. I hate losing posts to slow 'net. -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/43 "2002-10-09T19:04:15Z")
What part was Keitel supposed to play? Unless he was cast as the naval officer seen in flashback (unlikely) Kidman’s coiffure was never in danger. Or there were whole elements of the shooting that never came close to making it to the final print. Got a cite, willabee? ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/44 "2002-10-09T19:49:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by willabee \* > \*\* > As for _Eyes Wide Shut_, I had heard (as I presume many others did, as well) that Harvey Keitel was originally cast in the movie, but was thrown off at the insistence of the primary stars when Keitel, standing behind Nicole in a scene, actually ejaculated onto her back and hair. \*\* Disregarding its dubious veracity, this is one of the funniest things I’ve read all day. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/45 "2002-10-09T20:01:22Z")
I am a man of knowledge and hate the spreading of Urban myths in any form… but I may pass this one off as true! ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/46 "2002-10-09T20:27:57Z")
We must confirm this! It would revolutionize **oldscratch** ’s [“Six Degrees of Harvey Keitel’s Penis”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=41620&highlight=harvey+AND+keitel+AND+penis) game. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/47 "2002-10-09T20:32:02Z")
from [imdb.com](http://imdb.com)… > [@](#): > > Harvey Keitel and Jennifer Jason Leigh originally played Victor Ziegler and Marion Nathanson. After Keitel and Leigh had shot some scenes, Keitel was dismissed from the production. His scenes needed to be reshot, but Leigh was not available to reshoot them (due to a scheduling conflict with _eXistenz (1999)_ ). Consequently, Sydney Pollack and Marie Richardson were brought in to play the respective roles. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/48 "2002-10-09T20:49:23Z")
Hmm. I see that this rumor… ahem… reared it’s ugly head in that thread as well… ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/49 "2002-10-09T21:54:37Z")
…and BTW, how exactly did Mr. Wolf come on her back AND hair? Does he have a one foot penis? Projectile ejaculation to rival the most prolific porn star? Was he standing on a footstool? Did he hop up into the air at the exact moment? I’m trying to shake the image of him making that whiny sad face and groan thing he does in **Reservoir Dogs** and **Bad Lieutenant** right at the particular moment, followed by Nicole shouting “CRIKEY!!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/50 "2002-10-09T22:11:01Z")
This isn’t mainstream Hollywood by a longshot, but it’s a good film and its star has become a pretty hot Hollywood property these days. Ewan McGregor had a full-frontal scene in _The Pillow Book_ (which my wife loves) in which he’s at least partially-erect. If the sex scene that followed soon after wasn’t “real,” I don’t know what is. I can’t imagine it was faked. No cite other than my own two eyes, I’m afraid. Great movie though! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/51 "2002-10-10T02:32:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tomcat \* > \*\* > David Bowie and that girl in the music video _China Girl_. Read an article in Rolling Stone I think. Seemed real. > \*\* Bowie and the model (name was something like Jee Ling IIRC) were romantically linked at the time, but I see no reason to believe that their _From Here to Eternity_-style sex scene in the video actually involved real sex. All that can be seen in the video other than distant silhouettes is a little above-the-waist skin and some close-up kissing. For the record, I consider the “China Girl” sex scene to be one of the least erotic on film. Those loooong fingernails on the model creep me out, and Bowie looks like a zombie. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2002, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/52 "2002-10-10T14:58:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamia \* > \*\* > > Bowie and the model (name was something like Jee Ling IIRC) were romantically linked at the time, but I see no reason to believe that their _From Here to Eternity_-style sex scene in the video actually involved real sex. All that can be seen in the video other than distant silhouettes is a little above-the-waist skin and some close-up kissing. > > For the record, I consider the “China Girl” sex scene to be one of the least erotic on film. Those loooong fingernails on the model creep me out, and Bowie looks like a zombie. Ick. \*\* I read somewhere that there was a longer, more explicit version of this video that never made it to MTV. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/53 "2002-10-11T01:13:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Doghouse Reilly \* > \*\* > > I read somewhere that there was a longer, more explicit version of this video that never made it to MTV. \*\* Would that be the same place **Tomcat** read that they’re really having sex? This thread seems unusually full of “I read somewhere…” and “I heard once…” Not to be snarky, but I don’t think we’re living up to our usual good standards here. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/54 "2002-10-11T01:18:11Z")
Yeah, I didn’t want to bring it up **Lamia** , but I was also hoping for more along the lines of proof, and less along the lines of “Harvey Keitel shot his wad into Nicole Kidman’s Hair!!” Although I understand how difficult it would be to find actual proof for something such as this… ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2002, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/55 "2002-10-11T02:41:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamia \* > \*\* > > Would that be the same place **Tomcat** read that they’re really having sex? This thread seems unusually full of “I read somewhere…” and “I heard once…” Not to be snarky, but I don’t think we’re living up to our usual good standards here. \*\* No, this was read in a book in the pre Web era. But since you asked so nicely (asshole), I have found several mentions of an “uncensored” version of China Girl on the Internet as well, including [this one](http://www.superseventies.com/faq_davidbowie.html): > [@](#): > > The Man Who Fell To Earth includes full frontal nudity on Bowie’s part. (Bowie later on also appeared nude in his video clip of China Girl. Most TV stations broadcast a censored version of this video. But I’ve seen the uncensored version myself on MTV/Europe. MTV/America shows the censored version. And [this one](http://www.algonet.se/~earflaps/bowie/pv83b.htm): > [@](#): > > The original version of this promo was censored by a number of TV-stations. After editing out the offending parts (with Bowie having sex on the beach with his girlfriend at the time) it was shown. Yer welcome. ---
**Author:** ![cannibal22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@cannibal22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cannibal22)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/56 "2013-07-17T04:36:25Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > I’d love to know the answer, as this is something that I’ve wondered about quite often. I don’t know any particular gossip about any specific movies, though. google the interview anne hatahaway did on chelsea lately show about her new move love and other drugs…she says actors really do have real sex in some films… but that she and jake gyllenhal decided to not have real sex…so straight from an actresses mouth and who would know better. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/57 "2013-07-17T04:57:20Z")
It’s a zombie, but I re-read the thread, and one additional factoid has emerged to explain why actual sex on the set in a Hollywood film is unlikely. Adult actress Sasha Grey was explicitly forbidden from having sex with her co-stars while filming Steven Soderbergh’s _[The Girlfriend Experience](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1103982/reference)_. Why? I can think of a very good reason - liability. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/58 "2013-07-17T05:13:47Z")
I’m surprised we made it this far (and 10 years) with no mention of Brown Bunny. Real (oral) sex and actual Hollywood actors. Also, Shortbus. I don’t remember who all has sex with whom in that movie, but it’s very real (and graphic), but it’s pretty indie. To the best of my knowledge (not that I’ve looked into it) none of the actors are in the porn industry. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/59 "2013-07-17T05:20:57Z")
Since it’s bumped anyway: Shia Labeouf’s upcoming movie with Lars von Trier, _Nymphomaniac_, supposedly has real sex. Labeouf said in an interview he sent von Trier a sex tape of himself as part of the audition (this being shortly before his girlfriend announced their breakup). [Cite](http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/aug/31/shia-labeouf-sex-tape-von-trier-nymphomaniac). ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435/60 "2013-07-17T05:27:03Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Since it’s bumped anyway: > > Shia Labeouf’s upcoming movie with Lars von Trier, _Nymphomaniac_, supposedly has real sex. Labeouf said in an interview he sent von Trier a sex tape of himself as part of the audition (this being shortly before his girlfriend announced their breakup). [Cite](http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/aug/31/shia-labeouf-sex-tape-von-trier-nymphomaniac). Holy crap, just when I thought Labeouf couldn’t get more repellant, he threatens the world with a sex tape. It’s not the sex tape, you understand. It’s his involvement I object to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-actors-really-had-sex-on-camera-in-a-non-porn-hollywood-movie/130435.md?page=4)