Andy Serkis has said new rules being proposed this week for the filming of sex scenes could stifle creativity and amount to “censorship”. Actors’ union Equity is set to discuss new guidance for intimate scenes on film, TV and stage following the Harvey Weinstein scandal in Hollywood. In the wake of the accusations against the disgraced producer, many actresses have since come forward to detail uncomfortable or unscripted sex scenes they had felt pressured into doing. Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence claimed she had once been made to stand nude in a lineup, while Salma Hayek accused Weinstein of forcing her to do a “gratuitous” sex scene with a female co-star during the production of Frida. Weinstein said he “does not recall” pressuring the star in a statement responding to her claims. The BBC reports that Equity is looking at suggestions for how to deal with simulated sex as part of its report on sexual harassment, which is set to be released in the next two weeks. Serkis, who has starred in films including Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes and most recently the box office hit Black Panther, spoke on the Bafta awards red carpet where he said: “I think that kind of censorship is censorship of creativity. “It should be arrived at by the director and the actors involved. They have to find a comfortable way of doing it that will tell the story, because that’s what we are all there to do. “It would be a shame if actors became so self-conscious about relating to people. You’re there to use your imagination, to create a role. I don’t think that you should be stopped from telling the story.” Published in Daily Times, February 21st 2018.