Northern Irish actor Colin Morgan has said it was “so important” to have an intimacy co-ordinator on series The Killing Kind and mentioned it can be “difficult” for men to admit that intimate scenes are “a vulnerable situation for them”.
Inspired by the book, written by Dublin-born author Jane Casey, the series charts the past and present relationship between defence barrister Ingrid Lewis, played by Traitors actress Emma Appleton, and her client and successful businessman, John Webster (Morgan).
Speaking about what it was like to have an intimacy co-ordinator on set for his scenes with Appleton, Merlin star Morgan, 37, said: “It’s brilliant to have that open dialogue about things that people feel awkward having an open dialogue about.
“Even in life we kind of don’t talk about these things so, of course it’s going to be uptight when you come to do it onscreen and, in my experience, it has been.
“I’ve had to do things onstage very early in my career which were much more exposing than this and much less in your control.
“For me having to do such things onscreen felt much safer, you knew how it was going to be shot.
“It always felt OK to me talking to my fellow actor about how things were going to be and then to also have somebody there in a kind of a counsellor-type role, that we could both talk to individually means you can express any individual concerns you have.
“I also think it’s difficult sometimes particularly for men to admit that it’s a vulnerable situation for them too.
“Sometimes the onus is on the guy to be the one to have to protect and all that but it’s vulnerable for everyone involved. And it’s nice to have everyone feel like we’re on the same page. Everybody is protecting each other.
“I had Emma’s back as much as she had mine and the intimacy co-ordinator was right there in the middle as a check-in for both of us. That is so important to have it regulated, to have it known.”
The Killing Kind follows Ingrid as she is trying to rebuild her life, following her relationship with John.
The two got to know each other when she represented him in court after he was accused of stalking his ex-girlfriend, and they went on to form a relationship, which John struggled to let go of when Ingrid tried to break things off.
Ingrid’s friend and mentor Belinda is killed in episode one of the series and this leaves Ingrid questioning if John was the perpetrator of the crime and if he meant to kill her instead.
The rest of the series follows Ingrid as she tries to find out who killed Belinda and if John can be trusted as he makes a return to her life.
Author of The Killing Kind, Casey, who has written books including The Burning and The Stranger You Know, also served as an executive producer on the series.
Discussing what she would make of the “charming” character John if she met him in real life, she said: “The most dangerous people are the ones who are the most charming.
“I always feel like if your interaction with someone is, ‘Wow, you’re charming’, there is probably more to them than that. I’m quite a suspicious and wary person.”
All episodes of The Killing Kind are available exclusively on Paramount+.
