Olivia Colman had an extra reason to feel at ease filming sex scenes with Alexander Skarsgard in Wicker: her co-star was working out how to move in a costume that turned him into a husband made of wicker.
“I do find sex scenes very embarrassing, and I didn’t in this because we got on so well and because there was humour to the sex scenes as well, which makes it less embarrassing.” — Olivia Colman
Colman, 52, plays the Fisherwoman opposite Skarsgard, 50, as the Wicker Husband. She said their rapport and the scenes’ humor eased her usual embarrassment. Married directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson also demonstrated what they wanted, and filming took place on a closed set.
“And also I suppose a little bit. I was less [embarrassed] because I was thinking this poor guy is wearing a basket and so let’s not get too embarrassed that there’s other things at play,” Colman said.
For Skarsgard, the intimate scenes arrived while he was still learning what the costume would let him do. They filmed them during the first couple of days, so the choreography involved some practical adjustments.
“So there were certain things like in bed, you’re not super nimble, so it’s like, all right, maybe that didn’t quite work. Let’s do it this way instead, and then you figure out a way to make it work,” he said.
Colman said the costume was actually soft. Skarsgard explained that its organic and synthetic materials were woven to accommodate the movement of muscles and body parts. Once the facial pieces were glued on, they moved with his expressions.