RACY Netflix drama Bridgerton has certainly been getting us hot under the collar – with fans fixated on the steamy lovemaking scenes between Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page.
But it’s not the only show leaving viewers flustered, with searched for movie-inspired ‘sex positions to try’ rising by 100 per cent in lockdown.
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Sex expert Alix Fox says: “I’m not surprised that many people are drawing intimate inspiration from the movies right now.
“For starters, we’re all stuck indoors binge-watching films during lockdown, and we tend to be drawn to well-known, nostalgic classics for comfort during times of stress.
“Role-playing characters and concepts from cinema is a fabulous form of escapism too – it makes sense to me that today more than ever, folks might enjoy fantasising that they are somewhere else, even someone else.”
Bridgerton has had such an impact, in fact, that Brits have been snapping up four-poster beds hoping to recreate the raunchy romps – with Argos seeing a 112 per cent increase in the number of people searching for Habitat ones.
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According to a new survey by OnBuy’s Adult Division, top of the list is the piano scene in Pretty Woman, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.
Here, Alix, a script consultant on Netflix series Sex Education, gives her top tips on how to recreate this and other sizzling scenes at home to help transform your lockdown love life.
The Piano scene, Pretty Woman, 1990
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From Julia Roberts singing in the bath, to her character getting revenge on some snooty shop assistants and Richard Gere eventually climbing a fire escape, there are plenty of iconic moments in this rom com.
But one that really strikes a chord with viewers is the scene where businessman Edward makes love to sex worker Vivian on top of a piano.
Don’t have a baby grand at hand? You can still have a grand old time. Try lifting your partner onto a kitchen counter or table instead, or stepping up the heat by getting frisky on the stairs – it’s about exploring locations and (stable) surfaces other than your bed.
Pop some classical music on the stereo to enhance the cinematic mood.
And try wearing some lacy lingerie under a bathrobe for a sexy surprise!
The Car scene, Titanic, 1997
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The moment Jack, played by Leonardo Di Caprio, and Rose, played by Kate Winslet, sneak off to get steamy inside a motorcar stored in the ship’s hold is so hot we’re amazed they didn’t melt the iceberg.
Director James Cameron has revealed that more than two decades on, the infamous handprint made on the car’s fogged-up window is still visible on the prop.
The fact the couple have to slink away and find somewhere secret to hide is a big part of the thrill. At home, try pulling your partner into another room or even just behind a half-closed door or curtain for a stolen snog and fumble next time you have company, or when the kids are distracted.
In the film, Rose commands, “Put your hands on me, Jack”. Struggle to communicate your own desires so directly? ‘Bossy Massage’ is an exercise that can help.
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Ask your partner to give you an erotic massage… but make a rule that they can only touch you precisely when, where and how you ask them to.
You’ll need to think about what you truly want, and how to express it clearly and confidently, rather than just letting your lover take the lead. Your partner will need to listen carefully, not just assume they already know your hotspots and tastes.
Take turns, and see what you learn.
The Kissing in the Rain scene, The Notebook, 2004
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Take note: stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams dated for two years after this film was made, and it’s said that this scene – where they hungrily kiss as they’re soaked in a rainstorm – was what converted them from ‘just friends’ to ‘erotic flames’.
Getting physical in a downpour is sexy on multiple levels. The visuals of your lover getting dripping wet can have the same effect on you, plus getting messy and sodden feels a bit ‘naughty’ because we’re usually told not to do it. There’s a wild, liberating element to breaking the rules.
Next time the heavens open, get out there in it and feel heavenly! If that’s not practical, kissing outdoors cuddled under an umbrella with the raindrops pit-pattering above your heads can also be romantic and sensual.
Can’t wait for the weather to go your way? Jump in the shower together…but keep your t-shirts and underwear on. Turn down the lights, play a rumbling thunder and lighting soundtrack and take your time peeling the saturated, see-through fabrics from each other’s bodies.
The Pottery scene, Ghost, 1990
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An at-home pottery kit for two can cost as little as £40 and are great for a date that recreates this unforgettable scene between Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.
Doing something creative, playful and mucky together can be fabulous flirty foreplay, especially if one partner sits behind the other, as in the film, increasing the sexual tension and anticipation as you’re pinned close, working as a team. Playing the track from the film, Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, is optional too.
The two characters’ fingers entwine, and their hands move against the clay and each other in highly suggestive motions – it’s really less about making a pot than making each other hot.
Try covering both your palms in sultry scented massage oil and focusing on slowly stimulating one another’s hands and wrists as a new way to lead into lovemaking. The memory will haunt you, in the best ways.
The Fight scene, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, 2005
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In this film, a bored married couple, played by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, are surprised to learn that they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill each other.
And they bring the house down in a belter of a fight sequence, destroying everything around them – and nearly destroying each other – before putting the ‘ass’ in ‘assassin’ with a sex scene that goes off like a Smith & Wesson gun.
The adrenaline of the battle, the rush of being extremely physical, and the competitive power dynamic between two people who both want to be ‘the winner’ make this X-rated act more explosive than TNT.
Replicate the buzz – without blowing up your home – by play wrestling, pillow fighting or playing a game of ‘Strip Tag’ where you take turns to chase each other, and each time one of you gets caught, an item of clothing must be removed.
The Making it Happen scene, No Strings Attached, 2011
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Lifelong friends Emma, played by Natalie Portman, and Adam, played by Ashton Kutcher, finally get frisky… yet after they’re interrupted by a knock on the door, they have just seconds to savour such long-awaited sex. And an intense quickie after an extended build up can be mind-blowing.
Try sending your partner racy texts and leave explicit messages on Post-It notes in places only they will find them, to build excitement throughout the day, then when you do finally rendezvous, put on a sexy song and tell them that they only have until the end of the track to ravish you.
Or try using a sand timer. Over a dirty weekend, make a rule that you’re each allowed to flip it a set number of times, and that one partner will give the other a mini shot of pleasure every time it’s turned.
This is also perfect for adding little, controlled ‘intimacy breaks’ to your day if you are working from home, to help keep things spicy without totally abandoning your jobs.
The Cabin Love scene, Dirty Dancing, 1987
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After weeks of intense tuition with hunky dance instructor Johnny, played by Patrick Swayze, Baby, played by Jennifer Grey, sneaks over to his cabin where they make love for the first time.
Dance teacher AJ O’Neill, or MoveWithAJ.com, says: “Learning to dance as a couple can be amazing for your love life.
“It gives a fresh awareness of each other’s bodies, respect for each other’s space and a framework on which to touch each other in new ways. Plus, there are lots of rules – and it can be ultra sexy to be constrained by rules sometimes.”
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For beginners, AJ recommends salsa lessons, for “lots of saucy hip motions, and the man gets to lead, which can give new energy to relationships where the women are usually in charge.”
There are plenty of videos on YouTube to choose from so you don’t even need to leave your living room.
After that, try the rumba. AJ says: “It’s slow, sensual, and controlled as heck – what foreplay would look like if you had to do it in front of the Queen.”
The Love scene, Cruel Intentions, 1999
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Set to the hit song Colorblind by the rock band Counting Crows, Reese Withespoon’s character Annette gives her virginity to Ryan Phillippe’s Sebastian in this scene of the cult teen movie.
In a film where sex is predominantly about lust, manipulation, ego and power games, this scene is full of love, tenderness, and care.
Although he’s very sexually experienced, Sebastian is almost as vulnerable as Annette, because he’s never had sex with someone he’s actually been in love with before.
If you’ve been with your partner a long time, and fallen into sexual habits with them, we can forget to ask – like Sebastian does – whether our partner is OK and how something is feeling for them.
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Make a point of concentrating on rediscovering gentleness, slowness, and making each other feel cherished, as well as regularly checking in as to whether a move is working or if something else might feel better.
Pretend you’ve never made love before, and approach it with the same reverence and open-mindedness.
A playlist of music you like from your teens can help bring back those heady young love emotions.
And there are two more you could get imaginative with too…
The Elevator scene, Fifty Shades Darker, 2017
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What’s grey, red hot, and pretty much a blue movie? That’ll be this film – including the scene where billionaire businessman Christian, Jamie Dornan, asks PA Ana, played by Dakota Johnson, to slip off her panties under the table in a packed restaurant.
Then, as they’re in a crowded elevator after dinner, pretends to tie his shoe before running his fingers up her legs…and to her most private of places, in the most public of settings.
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Lockdown restrictions currently prevent anyone being so daring over dinner among strangers, but asking your partner to remove their underwear while at their home desk could still make their heart race during their next work Zoom.
Christian also tells Ana that she isn’t allowed to orgasm until he says so – despite taking her right to the brink. Experiment with ‘edging’ – repeatedly teasing yourself or your partner to the edge of a Big O, then stopping, and explore whether you can make yourself so sensitive that you can climax on command.
The Library scene, Atonement, 2007
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Keira Knightley declared that letting her libido loose in a library with James McAvoy in this romantic period drama was “both the best sex scene, but also [the best] to shoot”.
Standing up like this requires something sturdy to lean against. In place of an antique bookshelf, you could try the back of your front door.
I guarantee you’ll get a twinkle in your eye when you open it to greet the postie the next morning. Staying silent so you don’t disturb the neighbours gives that library-hush effect, too.
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In this scene, Keira’s character is wearing a luxurious flowing gown, while James’ character is dressed in a smart suit – and both stay fully clothed during the scene
See how it feels for you and your partner to dress up in your best attire then do your deliciously dirty worst with each other. Use the fabrics of your outfits as props.
Tug teasingly on straps and collars, use a tie to – safely – bind wrists, rub satin and silk skirts against thighs, breasts and buttocks – and let your hands slide inside blouses and waistbands. Challenge yourselves to get off without anything coming off.