Michael Douglas Says Intimacy Coordinators Are 'Taking Control Away From Filmmakers'

The Oscar winner agreed "there have been some terrible faux pas," but argued male actors should shepherd their own sex scenes and "take responsibility."

Michael Douglas is still wrestling with the introduction of intimacy coordinators on film sets.

The veteran actor starred in some of the most erotic thrillers of his time, including “Fatal Attraction” (1987) and “Basic Instinct” (1992), but recalls working through those sex scenes with his female co-stars — and isn’t quite sure about the industry’s sea change.

“I’m past the age where I’ve got to worry about that,” he told “Radio Times” on Tuesday, per The Telegraph. “But it’s interesting with all the intimacy coordinators. It feels like executives taking control away from filmmakers — but there have been some terrible faux pas and harassment.”

“Sex scenes are like fight scenes, it’s all choreographed,” Douglas continued. “In my experience, you take responsibility as the man to make sure the woman is comfortable, you talk through it. You say, ‘OK, I’m gonna touch you here if that’s all right.’”

The actor explained that, while this is a “very slow” process, the end product “looks like it’s happening organically” and results in the “good acting” being pursued in the first place.