Scarlett Johansson recounted an uncomfortable moment while filming a sex scene alongside Joaquin Phoenix.
The actress, known for her roles in the Marvel cinematic universe, and Phoenix, famous for his portrayal of the Joker, previously collaborated in a unique film, which led to an awkward on-set experience.
For those not in the know, we're referring to Spike Jonze's celebrated sci-fi romance "Her," which hit theaters in 2013. Beyond its notable intimate scenes, the film is well worth watching.
Set in a futuristic Los Angeles, "Her" stars Phoenix as the solitary Theodore, a man recently divorced who develops feelings for his AI companion, Samantha, voiced by Johansson.
The Walking Dead star Samantha Morton was originally cast as Samantha, but Jonze had Johansson re-record all of the dialogue. (Warner Bros Pictures)
Scarlett Johansson, although not physically present in the film "Her," contributed to a memorable phone sex scene with Joaquin Phoenix. However, the production of this scene was far from the allure one might expect from such a sequence.
In a 2022 episode of the "Armchair Expert" podcast with hosts Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, Johansson elaborated on the peculiar circumstances surrounding the shoot. She revealed that Phoenix had already filmed his part of the scene, but due to her role being only vocal, they needed to record her lines together in a studio.
Johansson described the experience: “Joaquin comes in, we try to get through one take, and he was, like, losing it. He was like, angry... He had already done [the scene], he had done it in person, and now he was with me, in this weird theater, I’m in this box and [Joaquin] is staring at me, the lights are low, and like, Spike [Jonze] is there. It was so bizarre. Joaquin was so upset about it, he left the studio. He needed a break.”
The situation underscores how the behind-the-scenes reality of filming intimate scenes can be quite different from what appears on screen.
Joaquin Phoenix and his partner Rooney Mara met on the set of Her. (Warner Bros Pictures)
Scarlett Johansson empathized with Joaquin Phoenix's frustration during the recording of the intimate scene, admitting that thinking back on it now gives her 'panic'. She elaborated further:
“You don’t want to hear your voice, ever. You definitely don’t want to hear what you sound like having an orgasm. You definitely don’t want to hear what you sound like having a fake orgasm - ew. It’s so gross.”
This insight into the actors' discomfort might add a layer of intrigue for viewers of "Her". Knowing the awkwardness behind the scenes might make the scene stand out even more when watching the film.
However, beyond this particular scene, "Her" has received significant acclaim for its storytelling and performances. It boasts an 8/10 rating on IMDb and a 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer, suggesting there's much more to the movie than just the awkward moments.
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