The controversial movie still sparks debate more than two decades after its release.
Most intimate scenes in Hollywood are carefully choreographed, with actors relying on body doubles, intimacy coordinators, camera tricks, and closed sets to create the illusion of sex.
But one British drama took a very different approach.
Released in 2004, 9 Songs became one of the most talked-about films of its time because its lead actors performed unsimulated sex acts on camera, pushing the boundaries of what audiences expected from mainstream cinema.
Years later, star Kieran O’Brien says he still stands by the decision.
A film unlike most others
Directed by Michael Winterbottom, 9 Songs follows a young couple whose passionate relationship unfolds through concerts, drug use, and explicit intimacy.
Unlike traditional movie love scenes, the film featured genuine sexual activity between its stars, Kieran O’Brien and Margo Stilley. The scenes included oral sex, masturbation and ejaculation, making the film one of the most controversial releases of the early 2000s.
O’Brien also became the first established British actor to ejaculate on screen in a UK-produced feature film.
“It was surprisingly ordinary”
Despite the backlash surrounding the movie, O’Brien has repeatedly said he never viewed the experience as shocking.
Speaking to The Telegraph in 2004, the actor said he believed many people exaggerated their outrage, arguing that the film simply depicted sex.
He also admitted that filming the intimate scenes was far less dramatic than many people imagined.
“I didn’t fancy her, I felt protective towards her,” he said of co-star Margo Stilley, adding that he was surprised by “how ordinary and natural” the filming process actually felt.
O’Brien has also insisted he has no regrets about taking the role.
In an interview with The Guardian the following year, he described himself as “really proud” of the finished film.
“It’s a film about two people in a monogamous relationship, having sex as you’d kind of hope that everyone does,” he said.
He also dismissed criticism from viewers, suggesting those who might be offended could simply choose not to watch it.
O’Brien calls it an unforgettable experience
Although O’Brien says he is unlikely to ever make another film like 9 Songs, he remembers the production with a sense of humor.
He recalled taking direction from Winterbottom while standing completely naked, joking that the unusual circumstances often left everyone on set laughing.
Margo Stilley has also spoken positively about the project in past interviews, saying she remains proud of both the film and her performance.
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