Anora's Mikey Madison Reveals Why Film Had No Intimacy ...

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2025 Golden Globes Nominations: Miley Cyrus, Meryl Streep and More Snubs and Surprises

Mikey Madison is sharing insight into her on-set experience.

The Anora star—who received a 2025 Golden Globe nomination for her role in the film—recently raised eyebrows when she revealed that there was no intimacy coordinator while shooting the sex scenes in the movie.

"It was a choice that I made," Mikey told Pamela Anderson in conversation for Variety's Actors on Actors Dec. 17. "The filmmakers offered to me if I wanted to bring on an intimacy coordinator or not."

The 25-year-old went on to say that instead of having an intimacy coordinator—who is brought on to choreograph scenes that involve nudity and simulated sex, as well as to advocate for and voice concerns of actors and crew members during any intimate scenes—she opted to keep sex scenes "small," only allowing the film's director Sean Baker, his wife and co-producer Samantha Quan and Mikey's costar Mark Eydelshteyn, who plays Ivan, in the room for each shoot.

"We were able to just really streamline it, shoot it super quickly," Mikey continued. "There are less sex scenes, more sex shots—that's what Sean likes to say. And I think there's a lot of humor involved in them as well. And so it was a very positive experience for me."

As for why Mikey wound up declining the option? The Better Things alum said it helped her empathize with her character. As she explained, "My character is a sex worker, and so to me, I had seen Sean's films, and I know his dedication to authenticity—I also wanted to immerse myself in that."

Indeed, Anora tells the story of a Brooklyn-based sex worker who meets and marries the son of a Russian oligarch, Ivan (Mark).

"She wears her nudity more like a costume, in a way," Mikey added of Anora. "She presents herself in this sort of hyper sexualized way, because it's how she how she makes a living, and it's just what she has to do. And so I think, as an actress, I approached it in a way of it being a job. So, I was very comfortable."

Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Following the conversation, fans had mixed feelings about Mikey's decision, with some pointing out that an intimacy coordinator isn't only hired for the actors.

"But doesn't the intimacy coordinator protect EVERYONE on the set and not just the actors in the scene?" one user commented on the video. "Is it not there for everyone involved? Is it fair for the actors to decide on behalf of everyone?"

A few fans didn't think Mikey, a rising star, should have been given the option. As one user put it, "That's mad. Would you do a stunt without a coordinator?"

Another wrote, "A movie about a sex worker with no IC is crazy."

Others didn't see a problem with her decision to opt out, with one user asking, "Why is that crazy? She was comfortable on set that's all that matters right?"

Another added, "She's lovely and I applaud her for going no intimacy coordinator—speaks to her talent as a true actress."

To learn more about Mikey and other stars who are first-time Golden Globe nominees, keep reading.

Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

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Zoe Saldaña

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Karla Sofìa Gascón

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Anna Sawai

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