Thapelo Mokoena
Thapelo Mokoena has returned to television in the new season of Fatal Seduction. With the show’s premiere generating excitement, he is discussing the challenges of performing intimate scenes.
In an interview at 947 FM with Thando Thabethe and Msizi James, Mokoena shared insights on how performers approach these intimate moments and the potential impact on their personal relationships.
Given the suggestive nature of the title, James was straightforward in his inquiry about how partners cope with watching such scenes unfold on screen.
“This is my question… is the intimate scenes. Obviously, Fatal Seduction, it’s in the name already, there’s going to be a lot of intimate scenes in that show,” he said.
“And they will be fatal,” Mokoena responded with a laugh.
As the discussion progressed, James probed into how actors handle these dynamics off-camera, especially after filming intimate scenes. Mokoena pointed out that trust and mutual understanding are vital, particularly in his marriage.
“My wife met me as an actor; I was coming out of film school. She met me doing what I do, she bought into what I do, and who I am and what I’m about. Luckily, I’ve never given her grey hairs or reasons to not trust in what I do and how I do what I do…” he shared.
Thabethe contributed by explaining the meticulous planning involved in these scenes, emphasizing that they are not spontaneous.
“It’s like a dance. You literally say, ‘Okay, first Thapelo is gonna pick you up…” she said, highlighting the level of planning involved.
Mokoena supported this by mentioning that productions have begun employing specialists to oversee such moments.
“There’s an intimacy co-ordinator who’s there to choreograph,” he elaborated, refuting the notion that actors improvise these scenes.
When asked whether there are ever unstructured moments in scenes, both Thabethe and Mokoena indicated that such an approach is outdated.
“It used to be that way in the industry. You’d walk on set, and they say, ‘Okay, you guys love each other… Action,” Mokoena added.
He also stressed that actors maintain authority over their comfort, emphasizing the importance of boundaries being respected during shoots.
“We knew before getting onto set what we have to communicate for what the scene needs… I could walk on set today feeling like I don’t really feel like being touched, and that’s reason enough to not shoot that scene that day,” he said.
