Penn Badgley Reveals Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of “You” Scene

Penn Badgley has opened up about the unique challenges he faced while filming a particularly memorable scene in the television series “You.” In an excerpt from his upcoming book, Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age, co-authored with his “Podcrushed” cohosts, Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari, Badgley details the experience of shooting a fantasy sequence that required creative camera work and a distinct approach to performance.

The scene in question occurs in Season 3, where Badgley’s character, Joe Goldberg, is portrayed as being disenchanted with his wife, Love, played by Victoria Pedretti. Instead of engaging with her, Joe fantasizes about a librarian named Marienne Bellamy, played by Tati Gabrielle. As the director, Silver Tree, informed Badgley, the camera setup required him to simulate intimacy without his co-star present, leading to an unusual and somewhat humorous filming experience.

Badgley recounted how the camera was positioned directly in front of his face, making it necessary for him to “simulate sex by myself.” He described the surreal moment of having to “hump the air” on a fake bed surrounded by a film crew, while wearing only a “flimsy” nude thong. The actor acknowledged the absurdity of the situation, stating, “Not only will I be humping the air with the camera in my face, but I’m going to be looking straight down the barrel of the lens, something I reflexively never do.”

As he prepared for the scene, Badgley noted the constraints of the set, which included a large camera rig hovering above him. He recalled a moment of levity shared with the crew before the filming began, where laughter broke the tension. Yet, once the director called “action,” Badgley quickly transitioned into a focused performance, stating, “I look in camera. And I hump my ass off.”

The candidness of Badgley’s revelations brings new context to the episode, prompting viewers to reflect on the complexities of filming intimate scenes. The behind-the-scenes insights provided in Crushmore not only highlight the challenges actors face but also offer a glimpse into the creative decisions that shape television narratives.

Fans can look forward to the full release of Crushmore on October 14, 2023, providing a deeper exploration of love, loss, and the intricacies of coming of age, as told through Badgley’s personal lens.