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Robert Pattinson points out the real sex act he performed on camera because 'faking it doesn't work'
Michelle H.
Robert Pattinson once admitted that one of his most awkward movie scenes was completely real, and said the experience nearly pushed him out of acting altogether.
The Batman star opened up about filming intimate scenes for 2008 drama Little Ashes, where he portrayed surrealist painter Salvador Dali. While the film failed to impress critics and scored just 24 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, Pattinson’s candid confession about what happened on set has continued to follow him years later.
Speaking in a profile for Interview Magazine Germany, Pattinson explained how filming explicit scenes became far more uncomfortable than expected, especially because he felt pretending simply was not believable on camera.
Robert Pattinson said the scene was completely real
Pattinson revealed: "I once decided to quit acting; it was when I did ‘Little Ashes'.
"I played Salvador Dali and had to do a lot of scenes where I was naked, and I also had to masturbate. I mean really.
“My orgasm face is recorded for eternity."
When asked why he did not fake the moment instead, the actor gave an answer that shocked plenty of fans.
"He continued: "[It] just doesn’t work, so I pleasured myself in front of the camera."
At the time, Pattinson was still building his career before eventually becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest names through the Twilight franchise and later blockbuster roles including The Batman.
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Real sex scenes in movies are more common than people think
Pattinson is not the only actor to speak openly about real intimate scenes on screen.
Actress Margo Stilley previously discussed filming 2004 drama 9 Songs, directed by Michael Winterbottom, where every sex scene in the movie was real.
She told the Irish Examiner: "People were really angry with me.
“When I did press conferences people would shout abuse at me."
Stilley later defended the project and rejected criticism surrounding the film.
"People ask me if I felt that Michael Winterbottom took advantage of me because I hadn't acted before, but they forget that I developed the character.
"It was a film about love and sex. It wasn't porn. I mean, I had sex with my boyfriend last night and that wasn't porn. It was just hot sex!"
Pattinson ultimately stayed in Hollywood
Unlike Stilley, Pattinson appeared far less enthusiastic about revisiting his experience filming Little Ashes.
Still, the actor clearly decided not to walk away from the industry after all. Since then, he has gone on to star in some of the biggest films of the last decade, transforming from Twilight heartthrob into one of Hollywood’s most recognisable leading men.
Stilley, meanwhile, remained proud of her role in 9 Songs and said: "9 Songs was a real film about love and sex, and I wanted to do that film and I am proud of it".