Jake Gyllenhaal recently opened up about the challenges he faced while filming intimate scenes with Jennifer Aniston, describing the experience as both “torture” and a mix of emotions.

The duo starred in the 2002 romantic film, The Good Girl, portraying characters engaged in an extramarital relationship.

During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Gyllenhaal candidly shared his thoughts on the complexities actors encounter when striving to portray authenticity on screen.

Reflecting on the love scenes, he admitted, “[Filming the s** scenes] was torture, yes it was.

But it was also not torture.

I mean, come on, it was like a mix of both.”

Expressing discomfort with the intimate scenes, Gyllenhaal highlighted the awkwardness of performing in front of a crew of up to 50 people.

He remarked, “Weirdly, love scenes are awkward, because there are maybe 30, 50 people watching it?

That doesn’t turn me on.”

The actor further elaborated on the technical aspects of shooting such scenes, likening it to a choreographed dance for the camera.

He described it as an “oddly mechanical” process, emphasizing the need for meticulous planning akin to that of staging a fight scene.

Gyllenhaal shed light on a unique technique employed during the filming of The Good Girl, known as “the pillow technique.”

He revealed, “The pillow technique was used… when actually in a horizontal place in that movie.”

The actor credited Jennifer Aniston for suggesting the method, expressing gratitude for her thoughtful approach by stating, “She was very kind to suggest it before we began.

She was like, ‘I’m putting a pillow here.'”

Currently, audiences can catch Gyllenhaal in his latest project, an English-language adaptation of the Danish thriller The Guilty, available for streaming on Netflix.

This gripping film showcases Gyllenhaal’s versatile acting skills in a compelling narrative that captivates viewers from start to finish.