Sam Heughan, who played Jamie Fraser in the US series Outlander, has claimed that actors were "perhaps forced" into filming nude scenes on the programme. Heughan made the comments during a discussion with fellow Scottish actor Alan Cumming at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
The 46-year-old actor stated that in the early years of the historical drama, which began in 2014 and concluded this year after eight seasons, intimacy co-ordinators were not present. Heughan said that without these co-ordinators, actors were "very much left to our own devices" and that it was "always a negotiation" with the production team, which he described as "not particularly a nice one."
Heughan highlighted that the introduction of intimacy co-ordinators in later series provided a "great protection" for actors. He also reflected on his experiences as a younger actor, recalling auditions where he was asked to remove clothing or kiss someone he had just met, noting that "it's not like that anymore."
Sony Pictures Television, the producer of Outlander, has been approached for comment. A prequel series, Blood Of My Blood, which started in August last year, has been renewed for a second season set to air in September.