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Penn Badgley says faking masturbation on camera is more awkward than filming sex scenes.
The former โGossip Girlโ star has opened up about some of the more explicit moments he shot for hit Netflix series โYouโ and admitted having to simulate solo sex acts in front of a camera crew was more daunting than filming with another person.
Speaking on his โPodcrushedโ podcast, Penn explained: โI have to fake masturbate and even that โฆ Iโve realised Iโve not done that so many times on camera.
โYou donโt think itโs going to be that big of a deal and then you discover itโs in front of a camera and a crew with a camera on your face. I have to say sometimes those scenes are harder than with (another) person.โ
In โYouโ, Penn plays serial stalker Joe Goldberg who turns to murder and he admitted directors were worried he was making the solo sex act scenes look too โcreepyโ.
He added: โEvery time Iโve done a masturbation scene โฆ Iโve always gotten the note to make it less creepy.
โThey say like, โClose your eyes or go faster or go slower.โ Iโm like, โWhat? This man is f*****g murdering people, and heโs masturbating in the street. Youโre saying Iโm making it creepy? How is it Iโm the one making it creepy?โโ
The actor revealed his colleagues thought keeping his eyes open during those scenes was part of the problem.
He explained: โI just remember I wouldnโt close my eyes and the director came up to me. He was like, โBuddy, I think you gotta close your eyesโ. โ
However, Penn was adamant being creepy was โthe f*****g pointโ of his character.
Penn has starred in three seasons of the hit show and filming on the fourth series kicked off in London back in March.
New episodes are believed to be scheduled to drop on the streaming service in late 2022.