CEBU, Philippines - In the ‘60s-set British film “The Falling,” “Game of Thrones” star Maisie Williams stars as a teenager who presses for answers when fainting spells become epidemic throughout her all-girls school.
In a key moment, Williams’ character Lydia loses her virginity, marking the 18-year-old actress’ first sex scene.
Williams opened up to Vulture magazine about the experience. “It was extremely awkward!” she confesses. “But [co-star] Joe [Cole] was very sensitive to the fact that I had never done a scene like this before, and it was great to work with someone who was so considerate of that. We went out for a couple of lunches and stuff just to get to know each other, and we had days of rehearsal where we’d get to know our characters and spend a couple of hours with each other. So I knew him quite well, and we got along quite well. It all paid off in the end.”
While the actress bonded with her on-screen partner, she did just the opposite with Maxine Peake, who plays her estranged mother.
“Carol [Morley], our director, told Maxine not to communicate with me and to keep her distance, so she wouldn’t create a relationship with me — because within the story, our characters don’t have a relationship. But Carol hadn’t told me she was going to do this! So here I am, trying to make contact with Maxine every single day, trying to make it work, and her never giving anything back. I’d be like, ‘How was your day?’ and she’d be like, ‘Mmmm,’ and walk away. Throughout the shoot I was so miserable because I thought she hated me. I thought all the adults hated me, and I had no idea why. I was just trying to prove myself and be a good actress.”
She continued, “The last scene we shot was the final one, where she grabs Lydia in the water, and we clasp each other and go, ‘I love you! There’s nothing wrong with you!’ It’s all emotional. And this whole time, we hadn’t spoken with each other. I’d never spoken properly to this lady! So I was like, ‘This is kind of crazy!’ Then we had a wrap party just after shooting that scene, and she was like, ‘Um, sorry about all of that! Carol told me not to create a relationship with you, so I’ve been ignoring you this whole time. I didn’t mean to be nasty or difficult.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God! So you don’t hate me?! Perfect.’” (FREEMAN)