‘Fellow Traveler’ Sex Scenes Were Integral To ’50s-Set Story, Stars Matt Bomer & Jonathan Bailey Say — Contenders TV
13.04.2024 - 19:11
/ deadline.com
Fellow Travelers stars Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey waded into the sex-scenes debate at Deadline Contenders TV event Saturday. The actors got intimate on the set as characters Hawk and Tim in the Showtime limited series based on Thomas Mallon’s book that follows their love affair in the 1950s.
“I just feel like the characters were never the same after the scenes as they were before, which to me is always a sign that it’s integral to the story,” said Bomer, who plays Hawk. “The way they connected was so reflective of their societal conditions. It was therapeutic. It’s not always the most comfortable thing, but it was always an extension of their relationship.”
Bailey, who plays Tim, said the characters could not be open about their sexuality in the ‘50s. So their love scenes became the only place they truly could be themselves.
“They exist in a world where they can’t communicate freely,” Bailey said. “Everything is robbed. Communication comes down to actual chemical microbe shifts. These characters can’t otherwise express themselves. When they do come together, they are fighting for love. Tim experiences something he’s never felt.”
As for portraying those scenes together, Bailey said, “You want a scene partner like Matt because he never put a foot wrong.”
Bomer agreed, “Same, Johnny, same.”
Ron Nyswaner, who created Fellow Travelers and serves as showrunner and writer, said it was important to him that the characters be played by out actors, and not only Bomer and Bailey. Five gay characters are played by out actors, and four executive producers and two directors also LGBTQ.
“Our characters are not the gay neighbor, or it’s not like we think that character might be gay,” Nyswaner said. “They are as in-your-face