Shia LaBeouf admitted he was 'terrified' shooting movie where the sex scenes were real

Sure, you might be more of a horror fan or perhaps an animated comedy lover, but it’s no secret that ‘sex sells’ in the film industry.

And from the likes of recent releases such as Challengers, it’s clear audiences love a film with at least a sprinkle of sexiness.

While many film sets may be equipped with intimacy co-ordinators and clever camera tricks, there are plenty of films where the actors have had actual unstimulated sex for scenes.

Sometimes it’s because a director wants something specific for the project and other times it can simply be a choice of the actors.

And in with some real camera trickery, Nymphomaniac meant the star cast had sex without actually having sex.

Premiering in 2013, the film starred the likes of Shia LaBeouf, Mia Goth and Willem Dafoe, and was directed by the infamous Lars von Trier.

The Danish film director is known for provocative works and Nymphomaniac had a unique marketing campaign with posters released of each of the character’s orgasms.

And before it even began filming, LaBeouf admitted he was ‘terrified’ of shooting it.

Back in 2012, he confirmed to MTV the film would require him and his co-stars to perform ‘genuine’ sexual acts on camera.

“There’s a disclaimer at the top of the script that basically says, we’re doing [the sex] for real.

Shia LaBoeuf stars in this erotic film. (Nordisk Film)

“And anything that is ‘illegal’ will be shot in blurred images, but other than that, everything is happening.”

Director von Trier is well-known for having a controversial catalogue of work and ahead of filming with him, as LaBeouf said: "He’s the most dangerous dude I’ve ever showed up for. I’m terrified."

The Transformers star added: “I’m only going to work now when I’m terrified.”

While the actor said there was a disclaimer about ‘doing it for real’, body doubles were actually used to digitally impose over the stars.

Body doubles were used for the cast. (Nordisk Film)

Movie producer Louise Vesth previously told The Hollywood Reporter: “We shot the actors pretending to have sex and then had the body doubles, who really did have sex, and in post (production) we will digital-impose the two.

“So above the waist it will be the star and then below the waist it will be the doubles.”

Even the way LaBeouf got cast in the film is rather unique, as he previously told Chelsea Handler on her Chelsea Lately show: “I sent him videotapes of me and my girlfriend having sex and that's how I got the job.”

Probably don’t do that next time you’re looking for a new role though.

Topics: Sex and Relationships, TV and Film, Film, Shia LaBeouf

Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

@jessbattison_