Nymphomaniac star: sex scenes are ‘boring’

The star of Lars von Trier’s much-discussed drama Nymphomaniac has talked about the experience of filming explicit sex scenes.

22-year-old Stacy Martin, who makes her debut it the film, plays the younger version of Charlotte Gainsbourg’s titular nymphomaniac Joe.

[Star took parents to Nymphomaniac screening]

But despite the steamy nature of some scenes, the actress told Digital Spy that shooting the film wasn’t “the most relaxing experience”, adding that the process became “a bit boring”.

“It is quite strange, but also it is very, very technical,” Martin explained. “It almost becomes a bit boring because Lars gives you a lot of freedom when you're filming in general, and then suddenly you are restricted into doing certain positions and doing this and being very specific. Because they have to match everything together [with the doubles], you just have to really obey what they tell you. So you just have to get on with it."

Martin went on to discuss working with co-star Shia LaBeouf, who’s hit the headlines in recent weeks due to his increasingly strange behaviour.

[Franco 'empathises' with LaBeouf]

"He has got a very special energy; he is very energetic and very dedicated,” she said. “I think once he makes a decision to do something he will do it, he commits to it 100%. On set, he is working and he gives you a lot and so you're not so conscious of working, you are just in the scene.

“All the work that you have done prior to coming on set is suddenly just there without you actually trying to conjure up anything, and he gives you that ability and it is really amazing."

The actress also revealed that she felt the film was empowering in its depiction of female sexuality.

[Banned Nymphomaniac sex scene causes controversy]

"Yes, it was fun, it was empowering and there is that line in the end in the second part, where Seligman says if a man walked down the train doing the same thing no-one would care. But because it is a woman, suddenly you are a bad person, you're doing something wrong, you're a slut. And it's like, no! You know what, we're women, we give birth to people here on this planet so give us a break and let us have a bit of fun! I think that's great.

“To have the possibility to do that and do scenes like this… not a lot of people are going to write films like Lars, so you really just have to grab hold of it."

After months of speculation Nymphomaniac has so far been well received by critics after hitting UK cinemas this weekend.