Stacey Martin, star of provocative Nymphomaniac, reveals the unsexy truth about the on-screen passion

In a revelation that may shatter the steamy illusions surrounding the controversial film “Nymphomaniac,” actress Stacey Martin has candidly declared that the filming of real-life sex scenes was far from the spicy affair audiences might imagine.

Sex scenes have long been a staple in the world of cinema, but the inclusion of genuine sexual encounters on-screen has always sparked controversy. One particular horror film even received an ‘anti-award’ at a major film festival due to its explicit content.

“Nymphomaniac,” a two-part film directed and scripted by Lars von Trier, revolves around the self-diagnosed nymphomaniac Joe, played by Charlotte Gainsbourg. The narrative unfolds as Joe recounts her ‘erotic’ journey through adolescence and young adulthood, with Vol II continuing her story.

Despite featuring a stellar cast including Stacey Martin, Stacy Martin, Stellan Skarsgård, Christian Slater, and Ananya Berg, the film garnered attention not just for its narrative but also for its provocative posters and the use of digitally added porn doubles in the explicit scenes.

Contrary to the audience’s expectations, the behind-the-scenes reality was far from glamorous, according to Martin. Speaking about the intimate scenes, she shared with MTV in 2014 that the process was “very unerotic” and “very technical.” The use of CGI required meticulous planning, with actors having to agree on positions marked by black dots on their bodies.

What might seem like a passionate on-screen encounter was, in fact, a meticulous choreography. Martin revealed, “It gets quite boring because then they have to do exactly the same with the porn doubles. But they’re having real sex, and they put the two together.”

While the film aimed to maintain its core theme by using body doubles for the explicit scenes, the experience for the actors was a far cry from the passion depicted on-screen. However, for Martin, the opportunity to collaborate with renowned director Lars Von Trier made it all worthwhile.

Reflecting on the unique experience, Martin remarked, “It’s incredible, and I can be in a Lars Von Trier movie and not have sex. It’s fantastic.”

As the curtains are drawn back on the less-than-sensual reality of filming explicit scenes, audiences are left with a fresh perspective on the complexities behind the on-screen passion.