An actor who carried out unsimulated sex scenes in one of the most controversial films of the 2000s has spoken out about his past actions.
When it comes to flicks that you can catch in movie theaters, most intimate scenes shown usually involve body doubles or the actors themselves faking the act.
But on very rare occasions, some films will want to explore the act by getting the actors to have sex, for real.
And that’s what Kieran O’Brien and Margo Stilley did in the 2004 film 9 Songs, which was written and directed by Michael Winterbottom.
The pair had real sex on camera for the film, which has left viewers questioning why they agreed to it, years on.
Their unsimulated scenes, which explicitly showed their romping sessions, were all 100 percent legitimate – and O’Brien has spoken out about it.
Kieran O’Brien sex scenes in 9 Songs are still being spoken about today. Credit: Revolution Films
Why did the actors agree to this?
In 9 Songs, the actors played a young couple in an intense relationship which involved going to a lot of concerts, taking drugs, and getting it on between the sheets.
Sex was one of the key parts of the story, so they had to get nude on camera and perform sexually for the benefit of the plot.
This included oral sex, masturbation, ejaculation, and most other sex acts you can think of, with the film shocking film fans at the time, and to this day.
In fact, O’Brien actually ejaculates in one scene, which many believed was a step too far, though the act made him the first and only established British actor to climax on screen for a UK title.
But while some may have regrets, the actors would admit that they didn’t care too much about what they showed.
O’Brien speaks about controversial sex scenes
The actor said that a fuss was being made about nothing, claiming he “doesn’t believe” anyone who was offended by the film as it is “only sex.”
Speaking to The Telegraph in 2004, he explained that he viewed intimate scenes the same way he looked at everything else that was shot, claiming that he was surprised at “how ordinary and natural it was” for them.
He said of his co-star: “I didn’t fancy her – I felt protective towards her.”
Kieran O’Brien, Margo Stilley, and Michael Winterbottom, director and writer of 9 Songs. Credit: J. Vespa / Getty
Were there regrets over the film?
O’Brien told The Guardian in 2005 that he is “really proud” of the film, explaining: “Honestly, I don’t know what all the fuss is about. It’s a film about two people in a monogamous relationship, having sex as you’d kind of hope that everyone does.
“It’s the age-old cliché: if you don’t want to be offended, don’t see it.”
“But really, I can’t believe that people will be offended.
“I don’t think anyone really was – they either didn’t see it or they saw it and affected that reaction.”
He said that filming the title was “bizarre and incredible,” admitting that he likely won’t experience anything like that again.
O’Brien recalled: “At some points, I would be taking direction from Michael standing naked with no mistaking where he could hang your towel, if you know what I mean.
“Michael would be wondering where to put his eyes. A lot of it was very funny.”
Stilley also said in past interviews that she is “proud” of 9 Songs and the sex scenes that came with it.
