Daryl McCormack has opened up about how he and Emma Thompson prepared for the intimate s-x scenes in their latest film, Good Luck To You Leo Grande.

Speaking to The Independent, McCormack revealed that he and Thompson sought the help of their director, Sophie Hyde, to prepare for the racy scenes.

During rehearsals, they shared intimate details about their bodies on paper before gradually stripping off their clothes to “tell stories about their bodies.”

McCormack said that this was a “gentle, beautiful introduction for us to step into a place of vulnerability” and that it created a level of comfort he had never experienced before.

In June 2020, McCormack and Thompson announced that they had opted not to use an intimacy coach for the film.

Instead, they navigated the scenes themselves as they felt it would be more “special” to do their own unique thing.

McCormack stated that the three of them, including Hyde, choreographed their own s** scenes after first becoming comfortable with each other.

He told Bustle that “There’s something about detaching judgment from yourself and just seeing the potential in your body and what it can offer you. That gives you access to step into the intimate nature of the film.”

McCormack added that Thompson and he would also take walks around the park together to help build their relationship, which made the intimate scenes easier.

Good Luck To You Leo Grande follows the story of Nancy, played by Thompson, a widowed school teacher who hires a male escort, played by McCormack, for a date.

The film focuses on the two characters sharing very intimate moments throughout the story.

Despite being 33 years apart, Thompson and McCormack were able to establish a deep connection and explore their characters’ intimacy together.

McCormack said that the rehearsals and the trio’s concerted efforts to know and be comfortable with each other allowed them to fully embrace the moment.

When it came to the more intimate scenes, McCormack said that it didn’t feel awkward or giddy.

“We enjoyed what we were doing and felt safe doing it. We were such a team,” he said.

McCormack’s co-star Emma Thompson also had to film a scene naked, which she found “very challenging to be nude at 62.”

In January 2021, Thompson revealed that she and McCormack had rehearsed the scene fully nude.

Thompson also stated that they discussed their bodies, drew them, talked about their relationship with their bodies, and described one another’s bodies.

The nudity was not just reserved for the actors, as director Sophie Hyde also disrobed during rehearsals.

McCormack praised the experience, saying it was a great opportunity to build trust and establish a deeper connection with Thompson and Hyde.

The actor revealed that he felt a level of comfort he had never experienced before and that the experience was “special” to him.

The decision not to use an intimacy coach was a departure from the norm in the film industry.

Many TV shows, including Normal People and Bridgerton, have used an intimacy coach for s** scenes.

The trio instead chose to choreograph their own s** scenes, which they felt made the scenes more unique and special.

McCormack said that they “felt like it was something we could do together, so we did.”

McCormack’s experience was a testament to the power of rehearsal, building trust, and taking a collaborative approach to filming intimate scenes.

For McCormack and Thompson, the experience was more than just acting, it was about creating something unique and special.

The experience was transformative for McCormack, who said, “It was a beautiful, wonderful experience that I’ll never forget.”