Kaya Scodelario reveals rejection of sex scenes and importance of intimacy coordinators in Skins spin-off

Kaya Scodelario, known for her role as Effy Stonem in the groundbreaking teen series Skins, recently revealed that she refused to do explicit scenes in the show’s miniseries Skins: Fire. Scodelario, who rose to fame as the series’ central figure in its third season, objected to the spinoff’s initial script, which he felt was unnecessarily graphic.

Speaking to The Guardian, the actress explained that the increase in sexually explicit content was linked to her age, as she had recently turned 18. “There were a lot of sex scenes in the first draft, because I was now legally an adult,” he said. “But I felt there was no need for it.” His insistence led to significant revisions to the script.

Scodelario emphasized the importance of protecting young actors and praised the introduction of proximity coordinators on sets. Reflecting on his time on Skins, he acknowledged that although his experience was generally positive, the lack of such protections could lead to potential risks. “Luckily nothing bad happened, but it could have easily happened,” he said.

The actress also praised the series for its nuanced portrayal of challenging topics such as mental health, saying the series was a departure from the simpler narratives typical of teen dramas at the time. “This wasn’t a sermon; it showed the complexities of life,” he said.

Beyond his work on Skins, Scodelario remains grateful for the connections he made, including his friendship with co-star Daniel Kaluuya, who is now the godfather of his child. While other actors such as Dev Patel jokingly described the series as “a little rash that won’t go away”, Scodelario feels it paved the way for his successful career and gave him a platform from which to advocate for change in the industry.