Michael Douglas on filming sex scenes before coordinators

Douglas, who is 82, made the remarks on the podcast Happy, Sad, Confused with Josh Horowitz; he says the old safeguard was reputation.

On air: Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger on Weekend Edition
Published 12:40 PM ET, Sunday, October 25, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Fox News: “Michael Douglas gets explicit about how he filmed sex scenes before intimacy coordinators”, with reporting from NY Times Post and Hollywood Reporter.
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 12:40 PM ET on Weekend Edition, by Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger.

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Fox NewsMichael Douglas gets explicit about how he filmed sex scenes before intimacy coordinators
NY Times PostMichael Douglas gets explicit about how he filmed sex scenes before intimacy coordinators - NEW YORK TIMES POST October 24, 2026 · facts used on air
Hollywood ReporterMichael Douglas on Intimacy Coordinators in Hollywood facts used on air

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorMichael Douglas says that before intimacy coordinators existed, trust and talking things through were how sex scenes got filmed, according to Fox News.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHe told the podcast Happy, Sad, Confused that it was like a dance, and he was taking the lead.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHe also said the man's job was to make sure the woman was comfortable. His words, in the Hollywood Reporter.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA dance with no choreographer. That's a fire code violation waiting for a wedding reception.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt sounds more like a meeting than a dance. Everybody agrees on the plan first.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAnd the enforcement was what, exactly?
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorReputation. He said anyone who overstepped got a reputation, and the reputation took care of them.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo the complaints department was gossip. Which, to be fair, has never lost a file.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHe says actors talked it through slowly, line by line. The example he gave was, quote, kiss, kiss, bite. That's the whole script.