How THAT explicit six-minute sex scene in Bridgerton was made: From Nicola Coughlan wanting to be 'very naked on camera' to a smashed chaise lounge and the very raunchy role of a netball
- Netflix dropped the second half of Bridgerton's third season on Thursday
- READ MORE: Bridgerton brings back the 'Bonkerton' factor as show return sees Nicola Coughlan strip fully nude for explicit six-minute long sex scene - after fans took the day off work to binge 'the steamiest season yet'
Scandalous gossip, lavish Regency costumes and X-rated sex scenes... you've guessed it: Bridgerton is back on our screens.
The second part of series three of the Emmy award-winning Netflix hit has sent fans into a frenzy once more over its more passionate moments - with one in particular leaving fans hot under the collar.
After being promised the 'steamiest season yet', fans didn't have to wait long before witnessing an explicit six-minute long sex scene featuring the show leads, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton).
It's been deemed the raciest moment to ever feature on the period drama - no mean feat given the programme has previously aired threesomes.
But just how was the skilfully acted out sex scene created? Here, FEMAIL explores the secrets behind the X-rated moment - from Nicola wanting to be 'very naked on camera' to a smashed chaise lounge and the very raunchy role of a netball.
Episode five of Bridgerton features a six-minute long sex scene between Penelope Featherington ( Nicola Coughlan ) and Colin Bridgerton's (Luke Newton)
NICOLA WANTED 'VERY NAKED' SEX SCENE
Viewers have been left in limbo for a month after the first part of the season ended on a cliffhanger, with Colin asking Penelope for her hand in marriage.
Fans of the fictional pair, lovingly dubbed 'Polin' and who went from friends to lovers, were therefore ecstatic when the couple not only became engaged but indulged in a passionate sex scene.
In the explicit scene, Penelope was being comforted by Luke after a row with her mother about her engagement, during which time they began kissing. Luke then undoes her corset and admires her naked figure.
The pair then moved to the chaise longue where Luke's bare bottom was displayed before they touched each other intimately.
They checked in on each other constantly, with Penelope stating: 'tell me what to do', with Luke offering: 'you could touch me.'
After warning his virginal bride that this 'may hurt' the pair then had sex, with Penelope asking at the end 'can we do it again?' to which Colin quipped: 'give me 5 minutes, maybe 10.'
The racy scene lasted a total of six minutes - which was the combined length of all the steamy moments in part one.
Credit for the passionate moment seemingly needs to be given to Nicola, 37, who last month told how viewers should buckle up for one extremely revealing scene which she said was her idea and felt 'very empowering'.
Fans were treated to the racy scene on Thursday morning when the final four episodes were released by Netflix
They checked in on each other constantly, with Penelope stating: 'tell me what to do', with Luke offering: 'you could touch me'
Nicola recently joked: 'You know, it is hard, because I think women with my body type – women with perfect breasts – we don’t get to see ourselves on screen enough'
She revealed in an interview with the Radio Times: 'There is one where I am very naked on camera and that was my idea, my choice.
'It just felt like the biggest "f*** you" to all the conversations surrounding my body. It was amazingly empowering. Having now watched those scenes, I'm so proud of them.'
Nicola also told how the steamy sex scenes were her favourite part of the filming process.
She said of taking on the role: 'It was definitely intimidating. Hundreds of millions of people watch the show. That's really scary.
'But [the sex scenes] was one of the things I enjoyed most. Luke and I had a real hand in what we did and how it came across.
'Thankfully we had that physical comfort with one another, so it ended up being a really beautiful thing.'
Of the bodice-ripping action, she added: 'It's steamy! I was like, "Oh wow, are we really doing that?".'
NICOLA AND LUKE BROKE THE CHAISE LOUNGE DURING FILMING
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan revealed a behind the scenes secret from season three of the hit show, which dropped its second half on Netflix on Thursday
Nicola shared an Instagram post on Thursday, thanking fans for watching and revealing that she and Luke managed to break the chaise lounge with their antics
Nicola shared an Instagram post on Thursday, thanking fans for watching the second half of the third season and revealing a hilarious detail about the six-minute sex scene.
She shared a snap of the chaise lounge where the pair filmed before revealing that she and Luke managed to break the piece of furniture with their antics.
'Part Two is out now, we put our heart and souls into it, hope you love watching it as much as we loved filming it #PolinForever,' she captioned the photos.
The behind the scenes Insta snaps showed Nicola and Luke giving the camera a thumbs up as they posed with the damaged chaise lounge.
Nicola previously revealed: 'I think we've won the sauciness for this series!' as she teased that she and Luke had damaged the set with their onscreen romps.
She told Entertainment Weekly: 'We did break a piece of furniture while doing one scene. It's a little bit like a stunt in which they're like, "Okay, we're gonna do this, this, and this."
'But then they gave us freedom and we had a lot of say in how we did those scenes and what we wanted to do. That makes you feel quite empowered.
'So we felt super. They were actually really enjoyable. I didn't think they would be. It was fun.'
PROPS USED TO HELP THE ACTORS MAINTAIN DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SHEETS
On Lorraine in 2021, Bailey revealed how flesh-coloured paint had been used to make it appear like his derriere was exposed during an al fresco love scene
Once on set, clever props were used to help the Bridgerton actors maintain a little bit of distance between the sheets: Mats, cushions and even – in some instances – a half-inflated netball.
Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony Bridgerton, previously explained the logistics to the Radio Times in 2022.
He revealed that he'd been instructed to use a half-deflated netball when acting out lustful scenes with the character of Kate Sharma, played by Simone Ashley, in season two of the show.
The semi-flattened sporting equipment, he said, enables actors to move against each other in a realistic manner, without intimate parts of the body touching.
Bailey explained: 'It's amazing how that whole industry has just come on, even in a year. There are new tricks to the trade – little cushions – and it's amazing what you can do with a half-inflated netball.'
The actor elaborated on the use of the netball, saying: 'If there are two people doing a sex scene, the rule is they must have three barriers separating them and there are certain acts where a half-inflated netball can allow for movement without having to connect physically.'
It wasn't the first time the actor has lifted the lid on some of the show's intimacy co-ordinators' secrets.
Appearing on Lorraine to promote the first series in 2021, he told the daytime TV host how his underwear-covered derriere had been painted with flesh-coloured make-up for an al fresco love scene against a tree.
Other tricks commonly used to make raunchy scenes sing include aloe vera to prevent chafing - particularly if actors spend hours re-filming, breath mints to ensure kissing tastes palatable to both parties and nipple daisies to allow intimate scenes to take place with some modesty preserved.
Sex scene co-ordinator Vanessa Coffey, who worked with Billie Piper on Sky Atlantic series I Hate Suzie and Daisy Edgar-Jones in H. G. Wells’s War Of The Worlds, told the Mail in 2021 that there's some poetry in organising intimate moments between actors.
‘Choreographing a sex scene is very much like choreographing a dance. The actors need to know exactly where hands are going, where body parts are going to be, what’s going to be visible or not visible on camera,’ said Vanessa.
‘Many have areas, whether that’s nipples or their intergluteal cleft (bum crack, to you and me) that they’re not comfortable showing on screen, so we have to respect and accommodate that with careful camera angling.’
Intimacy co-ordinator Lizzy Talbot, tasked with making the characters in Bridgerton comfortable in their close-contact scenes, told Buzzfeed in 2021: ‘We had weeks before filming where we would break down every scene into single choreographed moments.'
Nicola said of their sex scenes. ‘It’s more like giving you a framework to do it in the way you want to do it.
‘It’s not like: You kiss for three seconds and then you move your hand. We knew we had to hit certain points, but we were able to flow with it and make it seem natural and organic.’
The intimacy coordinator's toolkit
Intimacy co-ordinators will often devise a choreographed routine where the actors know exactly whose hands are going where and when.
Other times they'll take a looser 'paint by numbers' approach where one section of the body, like from the neck to the lower back, will be free to work with.
But both performers in the scene will know that beyond that designated area is off limits...
Half-deflated netball - used on series two of Bridgerton, a half-deflated netball keeps a distance between the two actors involved but allows intimate scenes to look realistic
Nipple daisies — to cover an actor’s areola, ensuring only side breast is visible
A half-deflated netball can prove a useful ally for keeping a barrier between actors but still allowing movement that appears natural Right: Nipple daisies are used to cover an actor's areola
Heat pads are used under robes to keep actors warm between takes
Hibue/shibue — strapless thongs, in a range of skin tones, that stick to the pelvis and prevents genitalia from touching
Merkins — a pubic wig, often used in period dramas or to provide additional covering
Flesh-coloured underwear — these can be long enough to cover the thighs and, with the right colour match, remain invisible
Small cushions stuffed with lambswool — to create a barrier between the actors’ genitalia during sex scenes
Mints — to freshen breath for kissing scenes, especially after one actor has taken a cigarette break
Glycerine and water spray — to create the illusion of beads of sweat during/after vigorous sex scenes
Heat pads — used under robes to keep actors warm between takes
Aloe Vera gel — soothes skin chafed or irritated by modesty garments
LUKE'S PRE-SHOOT RITUAL WAS BRUSHING HIS TEETH
Colin and Penelope's passion was a slow burner in the first part as the pair slowly came to realise their true feelings for one another
Luke previously opened up about shooting intimate moments with his co-star Nicola, revealing how they dealt with working on sex scenes after years as friends.
He told High Life, British Airways' magazine: 'Looking back, it was a breeze. She's my friend, so we just giggle about it.
'There are those moments when you come out of your body and go, "Oh, millions of people will see this." But then I've been an actor for many years now. People have seen my performance on stage and other shows, so you feel confident.'
During the chat, Luke also revealed the one thing he has to do before filming a scene, which he said has become a 'reset moment'.
Revealing that he has to brush his teeth before filming, he said: 'It's so random when they call me to travel to set and must be so frustrating for the assistant directors,' he laughs. 'But it's a reset moment.'
