Actress Brittany Snow has shed light on an ‘unspoken rule’ that affects female actors in Hollywood when participating in sex scenes. This revelation comes after she filmed an intimate scene for a new Netflix series.
The 39-year-old actress, known for her role in Hairspray, addressed the disparities faced by women during the filming of intimate scenes in an interview on the Las Culturistas podcast. During the discussion, she shared insights about her steamy scene with Malin Akerman in the thriller series The Hunting Wives.
The scene, featuring the 47-year-old Watchmen actress, challenged the typical Hollywood standards by focusing on the female perspective rather than just nudity and younger actresses.
Snow elaborated: “Hollywood tends to overlook women for sex scenes after they turn 32, especially when it involves nudity or showcasing their sexual confidence.”
The Pitch Perfect star applauded Hunting Wives for defying this norm by showcasing the evolving sexual agency of women as they age.
“This show chose to highlight the ongoing significance of a woman’s sexual journey beyond what Hollywood typically considers an acceptable age,” Snow shared on the podcast.
In the new Netflix series, which attracted five million viewers in its debut week, Snow portrays Sophie, a woman who relocates from the city to a small Texas town.
In this new environment, she encounters Margo, a charismatic and enigmatic socialite played by Akerman, leading to a burgeoning romantic relationship.
The narrative quickly spirals into a complex web of obsession and danger following the discovery of a teenage girl’s body in the woods.
While speaking with Las Culturistas hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, Snow discussed how the intimate scene was approached between two women beyond the ‘Hollywood age’.
“From the start, there was a clear vision of the kind of women we were portraying—women who were not 20 but still engaging in sex scenes,” she conveyed.
She continued, “We’re in our late 30s, 40s, striving to portray powerful women, catering to the female gaze, and embracing it fully.”
“There was never hesitation or worry about whether it might be too much,” she added. “We agreed to it and are proud of that decision.”
In a separate conversation, Snow shared how Akerman’s supportive approach during the filming made her experience more comfortable compared to previous male co-stars.
“I’ve noticed that many male actors in sex scenes concentrate on themselves, concerned about how they look, rather than your experience,” Snow told Self magazine.
“With Malin, the collaboration was considerate. She frequently asked, ‘Are you OK? Is this fine if I do this?’ Her attentiveness was refreshing.”