Ahead of her role in "House of the Dragon," 19-year-old Emily Carey, portraying Alicent Hightower, faced apprehensions about filming intimate scenes with Paddy Considine, 49, who plays King Viserys. The daunting prospect of these scenes, highlighted in Sunday's episode, initially left Carey fearful, particularly as they had not yet met. At 17, the thought of engaging in such scenes with Considine, then 47, was intimidating.

However, Carey's anxieties were alleviated thanks to the presence of intimacy coordinators on set, ensuring a safe and open environment for discussing the scenes.

This support transformed what could have been an uncomfortable experience into one where Carey felt respected and heard. Even in less explicit scenes, like bathing the King, intimacy coordinators played a crucial role, underscoring their importance in maintaining the actors' comfort and dignity.

This conversation around intimacy coordination surfaces amidst contrasting opinions within the industry, as exemplified by "Game of Thrones" alum Sean Bean's critique. Bean argued that such oversight might detract from the naturalness of the scenes, framing them as technical rather than organic experiences. This debate highlights the evolving considerations in filming sensitive content, striving for a balance between authenticity and respect for the actors' boundaries.