Saoirse Ronan and Kate Winslet share a kiss in the first trailer for Ammonite, directed by Francis Lee (Twitter)
Saoirse Ronan has said that she and Kate Winslet “naturally took the lead” in creating their sex scenes in lesbian period drama Ammonite.
Ronan stars opposites Winslet in the film, which gives the real-life story of palaeontologist Mary Anning a queer twist.
Anning is played by Winslet, while her love interest Charlotte is played by Ronan.
Speaking to ET about the film, Ronan spoke about how she and Winslet worked together to create their powerful sex scenes.
Ammonite star Saoirse Ronan said she and Kate Winslet ‘naturally took the lead’ in crafting their own sex scenes.
“In terms of a sex scene between two women, the two of us naturally took the lead. We know what we like, really, and we could have an open conversation about that,” Ronan said.
“We talked through the progression from one sex scene into the next and how the characters needed to take it a step further each time.
“But definitely, being able to lead the conversation and take it in the direction we felt comfortable with was wonderful.
“And it was fun! It was really fun to go, ‘Well, what about this? And what if you do that?’ I think that was a new experience for both of us.”
The Irish actress continued: “I’ve been very lucky that I’ve never felt overly nervous doing sex scenes. To me, they’re so completely technical. It’s not like a kissing scene, where you’re actually kissing someone.
We know what we like, really, and we could have an open conversation about that.
“It’s purely technical and choreographed. I’ve just always sort of seen it as that, which I think is probably a good way to go about it.”
Winslet has previously spoken about their powerful sex scenes in Ammonite, telling The Hollywood Reporter in August that she and Ronan “choreographed” the scenes themselves.
“It’s definitely not like eating a sandwich,” Winslet said. “I just think Saoirse and I, we just felt really safe.”
She continued: “I mean, we marked out the beats of the scene so that we were anchored in something that just supported the narrative.
“I felt the proudest I’ve ever felt doing a love scene on Ammonite. And I felt by far the least self-conscious.”