12 Celebrities Who Refuse to Do Daring or Intimate Scenes

Some movies and series include plots that may require actors to kiss or have intimate scenes. And while some Hollywood stars are pretty open to doing this kind of shoot, there are also some who would rather say no. Here’s a list of a few celebrities who refuse to film explicit scenes for personal reasons.

1. Penn Badgley

On an episode of his podcast, Penn Badgley, who’s been married since 2017, revealed that he was opposed to doing romantic scenes before the first season of You, which premiered in 2018.

The actor explained that he doesn’t want to do anything to disrespect his marriage and his wife, even if it’s just acting. “Fidelity in every relationship — especially in a marriage — is important to me. And, yeah, it just got to a point where I didn’t wanna do that,” the actor shared.

2. Lena Headey

One of the most iconic scenes in Game of Thrones is the Walk of Shame when they make Cersei walk through the streets of King’s Landing while being jeered at by the peasants.

What many George R.R. Martin fans didn’t know is that a body double was hired for this scene. In fact, actor Rebecca Van Cleave played Cersei’s body, and Headey’s face was later added in with digital effects.

“The thought of being naked for 3 days and trying to contain her in the way she would be...I think I would feel very angry. I didn’t want to be angry. I don’t think Cersei would be angry. I film every year and I have kids, and it was just too much on top of that,” Headey explained.

3. Julia Roberts

After becoming a mother, Julia Roberts became very particular about what she performed on screen. She might still consider acting in some intimate scenes, but if it seems too explicit, she will require the scene to be toned down. “You know it’s not really what I do, so if you are going to ask me to do it, you have to expect it to be toned down,” she shared. “You know, as a mom of 3, I feel like that.”

4. Sarah Jessica Parker

Paradoxically, the lead actress of the already iconic Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker, is strongly against the candid scenes in the franchise. Working on the show, the absence of explicit scenes was even prescribed in her contract.

“I don’t have any judgment about anyone who chooses to do it,” she said. “I think it’s fantastic that people feel comfortable doing it.” However, Parker herself has a “principal position” regarding such scenes and would never act in one.

5. Megan Fox

Megan Fox has deliberately avoided accepting roles that required her to be bare. She even retreated from the limelight because of it.

“There are some good projects I’ve read that are with talented people, talented directors, but the things the women are required to do in the movie are things I can’t have my sons ever know or see,” she explained.

6. Blake Lively

Blake Lively also won’t be showing up nude in any film or TV show any time soon. “I just don’t think that will ever be right for me,” she explained since she finds these types of scenes distracting to the plot.

7. Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore revealed that despite what it may seem, she did not actually get bare during the swimming scene in Chasing Liberty. In fact, a body double was used for the scene.

Moore stated that she is a modest person. She further explained that she had to carefully select a body double who would be willing to strip down and jump into a river in Prague on her behalf.

8. Keira Knightley

After becoming a mother, Keira Knightley has decided to stop shooting explicit scenes, specifically with male directors. “I don’t have an absolute ban, but I kind of do with men,” she said.

She made the decision because she didn’t want to portray the “male gaze” anymore. Knightley said she can see when the intimacy on-screen is unnecessary and the filmmakers “just need somebody to look hot.” So she refuses to participate in films like these.

9. Hilary Duff

In her career, Hilary Duff has made a commitment, stating that she will not agree to any movie roles that require her to be bare. Her decision is rooted in the belief that she doesn’t need to do so to boost her career or land a role.

“If I do a movie, I want to be myself. I don’t want to take my top off or anything,” she said.

10. Emma Watson

Emma Watson stated that she would never strip in a movie simply to prove that she has moved on from her role as Hermione in the Harry Potter films.

“I’m not going to do something shocking because I’m so paranoid or insecure that I can’t play another role convincingly. I don’t want everyone to forget me as Hermione. I’m really proud of her,” she said.

11. Jennifer Aniston

Another example of a star who refuses to show too much skin is Jennifer Aniston. In the 2013 film, We’re the Millers, instead of baring it all, Aniston opted to use a body double for the more revealing shots.

12. Rebel Wilson

Another actress who has strict rules regarding R-rated scenes in her films is Rebel Wilson. She has a clause in her contracts that requests the absence of candid scenes. Working on her film, Grimsby, they even got her a stand-in who acted in these scenes instead of Wilson.

“They got in another girl to be a double. And they got her to do all this stuff,” shared Wilson. And after seeing the scene, she said, “I’m not doing it. I don’t care what you say.”