What She Said About Intimate Scenes

In an Awards Chatter interview, May reflected on filming her very first intimate scene with co-star Eric Nelson (who plays Ennis):

“Her sex scene, because it was my first one, I remember I was kind of going, ‘Well, I wonder what this entails?’”
“Eric… was a little nervous… It was his first time ever doing a sex scene as well.”
To ensure everyone felt comfortable, series creator Taylor Sheridan walked them through the scene step by step:
“Let’s just rip the band-aid off. This is what we gotta do.”
Despite the awkwardness, May admitted it turned out to be one of her easier scenes—and she actually loved it:
“And then when we were doing it, we were trying not to laugh the whole time… I loved it.”
epicstream.com

So Was It Uncomfortable?

Yes—but in a surprisingly positive way. Isabel May acknowledged the awkwardness (especially since it was her and Eric’s first intimate scene), but she also praised the professionalism and support that made it manageable. Her candidness and sense of humor turned what could have been tense into a memorable, even enjoyable, experience.

Related Highlights from the Set

• Filming was extremely demanding—emotionally and physically. May described the process as “extremely physically and emotionally taxing,” though ultimately rewarding and bonding for the cast.bonmeadbernese.com

• Sam Elliott praised her resilience under harsh conditions like freezing water and scorching temperatures, noting she suffered more than others yet delivered brilliant performances.Looper

• Emotional scenes, especially Ennis’s death, were particularly difficult, though May found value in portraying such raw grief.Entertainment Tonight

Summary Table

Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into her training at cowboy camp, her experience filming in extreme environments, or how she prepared for Elsa’s emotional journey!