Greta Lee Describes Filming 'The Morning Show' Intimate Scenes as 'Living Nightmare'

Greta Lee, the actress who rose to global prominence following her role in the newsroom drama 'The Morning Show', has opened up about the difficulties of filming explicit scenes for the series, describing the experience as a 'living nightmare'. In a candid interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Lee detailed the intense and awkward situations on set, including simulating sex acts while feeling exposed in front of crew members whom she had come to regard as family. “Imagine you’ve spent years talking about their kids and then boom, you’re naked, simulating intense sex acts. I’ve never wanted to put a bag over my head and die more,” she said. To add to the awkwardness, actors are given stickers to cover intimate areas, which Lee said only heightened the embarrassment. “All it does is make it more humiliating to have a sticker over your butt that has a heart on it,” she added. “It’s like trying to make porn in front of your relatives.”

In the show’s fourth season, Lee’s character Stella becomes involved in an adulterous relationship with Miles (played by Aaron Pierre), who is married to her boss Celine (played by Marion Cotillard). Their secret is exposed during a work presentation when a technical glitch reveals the affair. Despite the discomfort of filming, Lee praised her co-star Pierre as a gentleman, recalling how he asked politely, “Is it OK if I touch your elbow?” given that the script called for them to “fuck furiously.” She said she replied, “I certainly hope you touch my elbow, Aaron!”

The role on 'The Morning Show' marked a turning point in Lee’s career, leading to her standout performance in Celine Song’s Academy Award-nominated film 'Past Lives'. She is also set to join the voice cast of the upcoming 'Toy Story 5' as Lilypad, a villainous frog-shaped tablet. Lee’s cover story appears in the latest issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, which becomes available for purchase on 18 June.