“There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women,” says Madeleine Albright, the first woman to serve as US Secretary of State. This is a quote that I think of too much too often, simply because of how many people it applies. I didn’t expect Gwyneth Paltrow to be one of them.
In a new interview, the 52-year-old actor explained that she refused to work with an intimacy coordinator for her latest film, Marty supremeDespite the fact that she filmed many sex scenes with her co-star Timothée Chalamet, 29) Vanity fair In a piece published on Tuesday, Paltrow said: ‘I mean, we have a lot of sex in this film. There are many – many. ‘ When Paltrow was asked if she placed “many vulnerable positions with chalamet” for the film, Paltrow replied: “Beyond.”
And yet the actress was completely dismissive of intimacy coordinators, whose job it is to ensure that actors feel safe and protected during sex scenes. “There is now something called an intimacy coordinator, which I didn’t know existed,” she told the magazine. “I was like,” Girl, I’m from the era where you get naked, you’re coming to bed, the camera is on. ‘Paltrow continued and explained that she and Chalamet didn’t feel like they should rely on the coordinator:’ We said, ‘I think we’re good. You can step back a little. ”
The remarks are shocking, not least because Paltrow was one of the most important votes in the #MeToo movement that legitimized the need for intimacy coordinators in the first place. Her remarks are of superiority, as if an intimacy coordinator makes you somehow poorer actor, and even if Paltrow does not want to use one himself, the promotion of the view is seriously damaged for younger actresses, which may be under pressure to follow and go without putting themselves in uncomfortable, even dangerous, situations.
It is also the flippany that feels especially damning. Of course, Paltrow is perhaps happy to “get naked” and “get to bed” with the camera rolling without anyone employing to monitor her safety. But #MeToo happened for a reason. Have we ever forgotten it? Have paltrow?
This is not the first time an actress has rejected the intimacy coordinators. Consider Mikey Madison, who was named best actress at the Oscars for her role in Sean Baker’s award -winning film Aorin which she plays a sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. “The filmmakers offered me an intimacy coordinator,” the 25-year-old told Pamela Anderson as part of Variety‘s “actors on actors” series. ‘[But] Mark Eydelshteyn, who plays Ivan, and I decided it would be best to keep it small. My character is a sex worker, and I have seen Sean’s films and know his dedication to authenticity. I was ready for it. As an actress, I approached it as work. “
Intimacy coordinators were a lifeline for so much in the entertainment industry, which provides support and structure to an area of filmmaking that has long been neglected, often at the expense of young women. How did we suddenly come to a point where well -known actresses loudly reject their credibility? One where the narrative changes: Intimacy coordinators are no longer useful, is it annoying? They create inauthentic performances? Do they get in the way? Serious?
Madison is one thing. Part of me is willing to forgive her, given how green she is for the industry. However, with Paltrow, I can’t help but despair. Someone in her position holds as much weight as it comes to the formation of standards and conversations in the industry. And as someone who talked about the fact that she exploited herself – she accused Harvey Weinstein of sexually harassing her at the age of 22, something that the shameful producer has always denied – she needs to know better than criticizing part of the industry designed to combat the system of abuse she claims she was a victim.
Albright would be disappointed – and honestly, so do I.
