Film Acting Techniques – Approaching Sensual Scenes

There are few things in the realm of film acting as uncomfortable and embarrassing as sensual scenes between one or more actors. Both male and female actors tend to have a difficult time remaining in their character while recreating an intimate moment that is typically reserved for the privacy of their own rooms.

Approaching a sensual scene requires an actor to be fully confident in his acting ability while simultaneously blocking out external stimuli (crew members, etc.).

Physical Contact

Of course, one question many actors have when it comes to approaching a sensual scene is how far is too far? The answer to this question depends on not only the desired approach from the director, but also the comfort level between you and the other actor. Many sensual scenes require physical contact of some type, which may include: kissing, rubbing, caressing or more graphic movements.

The key to creating a realistic sensual scene is to never do something you’re not comfortable with. Your discomfort will be blatant on the screen, so you’re better altering the graphicness of the scene to fit your comfort zone than pushing through and having an awkward performance.

Staying True to Your Character

This is one of the most important things to remember when you’re approaching a sensual scene. It is not uncommon for an actor to revert to his own “self” during sensual scenes due to the awkwardness and embarrassment of the scene. As an actor you must fight this urge. No matter how uncomfortable or embarrassed you may be, you must always stay true to your character.

One way of doing so is to dissect the requirements of the scene then outlining how your character would perform such requirements. For example, if the scene calls for heavy French-kissing, you must think about how your character would passionately kiss, not how you kiss. Don’t be afraid of asking your fellow actor for several practice rounds. While there will likely be a decent amount of jokes about this request, it is a good idea to become familiar with each other in order to have a realistic sensual scene that is still within the scope of your character’s personality.