Thapelo Mokoena is back on screens with the latest season of Fatal Seduction, and alongside the buzz around the show’s return, he’s shedding light on the steamy scenes.
During a candid chat at 947 FM with Thando Thabethe and Msizi James, the conversation turned to how actors navigate filming intimate moments and what that means for their real-life relationships.
With the show’s sensual tone already hinted at in its title, James didn’t hold back, asking how partners deal with watching such scenes play out on screen.
“This is my question… is the intimate scenes. Obviously, Fatal Seduction, it’s in the name already, there’s going to be a lot of intimate scenes in that show,” he said.
“And they will be fatal,” Mokoena responded with a laugh.
Digging deeper, James questioned how actors manage those dynamics at home, especially after shooting such scenes. In response, Mokoena explained that trust and understanding play a huge role, particularly in his marriage.
“My wife met me as an actor; I was coming out of film school. She met me doing what I do, she bought into what I do, and who I am and what I’m about. Luckily, I’ve never given her grey hairs or reasons to not trust in what I do and how I do what I do…” he shared.
Thabethe jumped in to break down the technical side of things, explaining that these scenes are far from spontaneous.
“It’s like a dance. You literally say, ‘Okay, first Thapelo is gonna pick you up…” she said, highlighting the level of planning involved.
Mokoena backed this up, revealing that productions now rely on professionals to guide such moments.
“There’s an intimacy co-ordinator who’s there to choreograph,” he explained, shutting down the idea that actors are left to improvise.
When asked if scenes are ever unstructured, both presenters made it clear that those days are long gone.
“It used to be that way in the industry. You’d walk on set, and they say, ‘Okay, you guys love each other… Action,” Mokoena added.
He also emphasised that actors retain control over their comfort levels, noting that boundaries are respected on set.
“We knew before getting onto set what we have to communicate for what the scene needs… I could walk on set today feeling like I don’t really feel like being touched, and that’s reason enough to not shoot that scene that day,” he said.