Overview

• Cooke says women who set limits in intimate scenes are often labeled “difficult” or “a bitch,” especially early in their careers.
• She praises intimacy coordinators as advocates who can sense hesitation and “become your voice” when actors struggle to articulate boundaries.
• Sex scenes can place performers in “really precarious and vulnerable situations,” and if mishandled can feel like “a chunk of yourself has been taken,” she says.
• Cooke recounts slapping House of the Dragon co-star Tom Glynn‑Carney for real after checking with a stunt coordinator, adding the hit made him cry on camera.
• Her remarks land as The Girlfriend premieres Sept. 10 on Prime Video and as House of the Dragon Season 3 films with an HBO/Max debut expected in 2026, even as some veterans like Gwyneth Paltrow and Michael Douglas voice reservations about intimacy coordination.