'Mortified' Olivia Cooke gets candid about filming intimate scenes

Olivia Cooke shares insights about 'mortifying' explicit scenes

Olivia Cooke Opens Up: The “Mortifying” Reality of Filming Intimate Scenes

Olivia Cooke shares insights about 'mortifying' explicit scenesOlivia Cooke recently made a candid confession, revealing that she is frequently involved in mortifying explicit scenes.The 31-year-old actress, known for her role as Alicent Hightower in HBO’s fantasy drama House of...

Olivia Cooke, best known for playing Alicent Hightower on House of the Dragon, recently shared how filming intimate scenes has become a frequent, humbling part of her career. Now 31, she says these moments often leave her feeling vulnerable and embarrassed.

In an interview with The Sun, Cooke described expecting racy scenes in her scripts — and when they appear, feeling a wave of dread. She joked, “My career … is like the humiliation of Olivia Cooke.” She also praised her dresser, Alexandra Bland, who has been by her side since House of the Dragon, for helping her navigate the discomfort.

Cooke pulled back the curtain on “intimacy garments” — specially designed covers that actors wear during explicit scenes — explaining how awkward they can be to use. She described one scene: bent over, struggling with silicone pads and sticky material, trying to avoid mishaps, feeling exposed. To cope, she says she mentally disassociates, stepping outside her body in her mind.

In addition to House of the Dragon, she currently stars in The Girlfriend, a psychological thriller. She’s set to return for Season 3 of House of the Dragon in 2026.

FAQs

Q: Who is Olivia Cooke?

A British actress known for major roles like Alicent Hightower in House of the Dragon, and now starring in The Girlfriend.

Q: What makes her intimate scenes so “mortifying”?

Discomfort over the physical preparation (intimacy garments), awkwardness during execution, and emotional exposure. She’s spoken openly about the struggle with privacy and boundaries.

Q: Does she have support when filming intimate scenes?

Yes — she mentions her dresser Alexandra Bland and uses “intimacy garments” and covers. Also, intimacy coordinators are increasingly standard in such scenes.

Q: Why does she speak about this now?

At around age 30 her career has featured more intimate scenes, and she seems more comfortable being open about the challenges, helping shed light on what many actors go through.

Q: What upcoming projects is she involved in?

The Girlfriend is out, and the third season of House of the Dragon is expected in 2026.