Actor made huge ‘nine-hour’ sacrifice while filming X-rated scene with Natalie Portman
Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, Film and TV, Netflix, True crime
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, Film and TV, Netflix, True crime
Actor Charles Melton has expressed how ‘annoying’ the process of preparing to film an X-rated scene with Natalie Portman was in Netflix’s May December.
When it comes to dark comedy dramas, nobody is doing it like Netflix. There’s Don’t Look Up starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio, Do Revenge, and the mind-bending, stop-motion animation The House.
Another jewel is Todd Haynes’ Academy Award-nominated May December—a flick that sees Portman’s character Elizabeth Berry becoming familiar with Gracie Atherton-Yoo (played by Julianne Moore) and her husband Joe Yoo (Melton).
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Moore and Melton’s characters are based on Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau, respectively. The former was a middle-aged teacher who began a sexual relationship with the latter, who at the time was a sixth-grade student.
The former educator eventually pled guilty to two counts of felony second-degree rape of Fualaau in 1997. After serving 7.5 years in prison, the pair wed.
One particular moment in May December sees Joe cheating on Gracie by engaging in sexual intercourse with Elizabeth—a moment Melton claims was an ‘annoying process’ behind the scenes.
Speaking to Variety, the Riverdale alumnus called the intimate scene ‘very professional’ before stating: “The whole thing. Natalie, Todd, and I met to discuss the scene, walking through it and ensuring everybody was comfortable.
“There were a few conversations about the prosthetic, regarding what was realistic and what wasn’t. And I had to wear that prosthetic for nine hours that day.
“I didn’t have anything to drink that morning or the night before. That was an annoying process but still very respectful.”
Melton also explained that ‘so much pathos’ went into his character’s portrayal, remarking: “There’s this kind of repressed feeling. How they talk, it’s all right in the throat. For [playing] Joe, these words are forming for the first time.
“It’s like seeing somebody at a party hunched over, protected, and not trying to take up too much space. Joe doesn’t even know he’s doing it.
“It’s part of his adult child that has translated into the physicality of his movement which he’s not even aware. It’s just him existing.”
Melton, who took inspiration for the role from Tony Leung’s character in Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love and Heath Ledger in Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain, also had nothing but praise for May December director Todd Haynes.
"Todd held my hand every step of the way,” he revealed. "He would tell me, ‘You got this, trust your instincts.’
"When you have that support from a director like Todd Haynes, in my opinion, the greatest living director, there’s no boundaries or limits.”
You can stream May December on Netflix now.