Sunday Times feature: How to improve intimacy in your marriage — by the Sex Education coach
In a recent feature for The Sunday Times Magazine, journalist Matt Rudd explores the transformative potential of Ita O’Brien’s intimacy practices beyond the screen. Renowned for her work on productions like Sex Education and Normal People, O’Brien has pioneered methods to ensure actors perform intimate scenes with authenticity and respect. Now, she’s extending these principles to everyday relationships through her new book, Intimacy: A Field Guide to Finding Connection and Feeling Your Deep Desires.
Rudd recounts his personal experience applying O’Brien’s exercises, such as eye-gazing and heart-to-heart hugs, with his wife of 20 years. These practices, though initially awkward, aim to rebuild emotional and physical connections that may have faded over time. O’Brien emphasizes that true intimacy requires presence, consent, and vulnerability, challenging societal norms that often prioritize spontaneity over communication.
The article highlights how O’Brien’s approach encourages couples to engage in small, consistent acts of connection, fostering deeper and more sustainable intimacy. By bringing her on-set expertise into the realm of personal relationships, O’Brien offers a roadmap for couples seeking to rekindle their connection.