Ita O’Brien choreographs the bodily tango of intimate scenes in film, television and theater. Having worked on Sex Education and Normal People—two TV series that garnered critical acclaim for their depictions of sex—O’Brien is now the go-to intimacy coordinator for directors wanting to ensure actors’ safety, alongside the purity of their vision. Indeed, upon winning her Bafta for Best Actress for her self-directed and -produced show, I May Destroy You, Michaela Coel dedicated her award to O’Brien’s work, for allowing people to “make work about exploitation, loss of respect, about abuse of power, without being exploited or abused in the process.” 

Bella Gladman: Your job is a relatively new one. What does it involve? 

Ita O’Brien: In the past, intimate scenes were a...