In a candid discussion on the “Happy, Sad, Confused” podcast, Henry Cavill opened up about his views on sex scenes in movies and television. The 41-year-old actor, known for his roles in Man of Steel and The Witcher, didn’t hold back when it came to expressing his discomfort with intimate scenes on screen.

Cavill’s comments came during a conversation with Argylle director Matthew Vaughn, who admitted to not understanding sex scenes either. Vaughn revealed that he doesn’t typically direct them, feeling that they often don’t add value to the story. “I also don’t understand them. I’m not a fan,” Cavill responded with a laugh.

The actor elaborated on his perspective, pointing out that while sex scenes can be impactful when used appropriately in a film, they are often overused. He stated, “I think there are circumstances where a sex scene actually is beneficial to a movie rather than just the audience. I think sometimes they’re overused these days.” According to Cavill, the issue arises when the scene doesn’t serve the plot or character development and feels like it’s just a gratuitous display of nudity.

“When you have a sense that you’re going, ‘Is this really necessary or is it just people with less clothing on?’ that’s when you start to get uncomfortable,” Cavill explained. “You’re thinking, ‘There’s not a performance here. There’s not a piece which is going to carry through to the rest of the movie.’”

Despite his reservations, Cavill acknowledged that when done right, sex scenes can be integral to storytelling. “Sex scenes can be great in a movie,” he said, “They can really help with the storytelling.” However, Cavill also emphasized that more often than not, the human imagination can deliver the same effect, making explicit content feel unnecessary.

“I think it can be a little bit of a cop-out if a TV show or a movie is just filled with gyrating bodies,” Cavill continued. “You’re going, ‘OK, but what is this doing for us apart from the idea of, ‘Oh, naked person? Great.’” In Cavill’s view, this kind of content risks detracting from the film’s emotional or narrative depth.

Vaughn, while agreeing with Cavill’s assessment, joked that their stance might stem from their British roots, calling them “English prudes.” Cavill laughed in response, but firmly stated, “Perhaps, but I’m not a fan of doing them.”

Cavill’s candid remarks are part of a broader conversation in Hollywood, where several stars have spoken out about the discomfort and awkwardness of filming intimate scenes. Liam Neeson, Margot Robbie, Kirsten Dunst, Keira Knightley, and Charlie Hunnam are just a few of the celebrities who have shared similar sentiments regarding the challenges and discomfort associated with filming explicit content.

For Cavill, it’s clear that while he appreciates the value of sex scenes when executed thoughtfully, he believes that the over-reliance on them can often feel like a shortcut in storytelling, and that the human imagination can often do the job far better.