Julia Roberts has ignited an intense discussion online after disclosing the unconventional approach she and co-star Andrew Garfield took for a pivotal romantic scene in their recently released film, After The Hunt.
The film, directed by Luca Guadagnino, features the Oscar-winning Roberts along with Garfield and Ayo Edebiri. It centers around a Yale professor who becomes embroiled in a student’s accusation of sexual assault against a fellow professor. While the film has received mixed reviews on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, it has garnered praise for its gripping narrative, powerful performances, and complex moral questions.
The conversation about the movie shifted in a surprising direction when Roberts revealed insights into a much-discussed scene—a brief but emotionally charged encounter between her character, Alma, and Garfield’s character, Hank.
This scene, though not explicit, is characterized by its emotional intensity, culminating with Alma pulling away from Hank mid-kiss.
Roberts discussed with Refinery29 Australia how she and Garfield chose to forgo the use of an intimacy coordinator for this scene.
She elaborated: “They asked us if we wanted [an Intimacy Coordinator], I said no, Andrew said no… “Andrew and Luca and I had a lot of conversations, we had a lot of rehearsal that morning, and then Andrew and I, when we were back at the dorms where we get ready, he came to me and was like, you know, ‘Is there anything you are not comfortable with?’ And I said, ‘Between the two of us, I am completely at ease.’”
The director, who is known for his preference for minimal takes, captured the scene in a single shot. Roberts recalled: “All this conversation, and then it was like 35 seconds and then over. It was crazy.”
The interview has led to divided opinions on TikTok. Some expressed concern that Roberts’ decision might set a dangerous precedent, with one commenter stating: “You can’t opt out of safety just because you feel like it.”
Another commented: “If one actor says no, then the other feels pressured to say no.” Others highlighted the importance of intimacy coordinators as a safeguard for both cast and crew, not just the actors involved.
On the other hand, some supported Roberts, arguing that with her extensive experience in the industry, she and Garfield could establish their own boundaries. One viewer remarked that intimacy coordinators are ‘a good idea for young actors’, but ‘not so much the older ones who have been acting for decades’.
Industry expert Michela Carattini, a SAG-AFTRA-accredited intimacy coordinator trainer, conveyed to Refinery29 that opting out could be ‘perfectly valid’ if consent and safety are properly ensured. She emphasized: “It is important to remember that the purpose of an Intimacy Coordinator’s work is to support consent, empowerment and safety. If those things have truly been supported for everyone involved, it is perfectly valid not to use an Intimacy Coordinator.”