Technical Difficulties Interrupt Sex Scene Filming on Oppenheimer Set, Actress Shares Anecdote
During a recent Universal panel, actress Florence Pugh revealed a behind-the-scenes mishap that occurred while filming a sex scene for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Pugh, who portrays Jean Tatlock in the film, recounted the unexpected incident involving a camera malfunction.
“In the middle of our sex scene, the camera broke,” Pugh disclosed. “No one knows this, but it did. Our camera broke when we were both naked, and it was not ideal timing.”
Pugh’s character, Jean Tatlock, shares a relationship with Cillian Murphy’s titular protagonist, Robert Oppenheimer, before and during his marriage to Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, played by Emily Blunt.
Detailing the incident further, Pugh described the awkward moment when both actors found themselves in a vulnerable position on set. “Cillian and I are in this room together. It’s a closed set, so we’re both holding our bodies like this,” she explained, mimicking the protective gesture.
Despite the interruption, Pugh seized the opportunity to learn about the technical aspects of filmmaking. When the camera technician arrived to address the issue, she engaged in conversation, eager to understand the problem. “You just make your moments,” she quipped to the amused crowd. “I’m like, ‘What’s going on with the shutter here, buddy?'”
Pugh praised Nolan’s production team for their professionalism and expertise, emphasizing the collaborative spirit on set. “Every person on this set was so knowledgeable and was so ready to make this kind of movie that there was no dull moment,” she remarked. “It felt like we were lucky to be there every second of the day.”
Despite the hiccup, Oppenheimer has garnered significant acclaim, receiving 13 Oscar nominations, including nods for Best Picture, Best Actor (Murphy), Best Director (Nolan), and Best Supporting Actress (Blunt) and Actor (Robert Downey Jr.).
