During a recent episode of the Drama Queens podcast on Monday, August 9, the 39-year-old actress reminisced about shooting one of her initial intimate scenes with her on-screen paramour Lucas, portrayed by Chad Michael Murray.
She recounted the discomfort she felt while discussing the scene with co-hosts Sophia Bush and Bethany Joy Lenz.
Recalling the scene, Hilarie mentioned that Peyton had to plant kisses all over Lucas’ body and even undo his belt.
Upon rewatching the scene, Hilarie expressed her initial thoughts that merely open-mouth kissing would suffice for their characters.
However, feeling compelled to comply with the script, she proceeded with the more intimate scene.
She appreciated Chad’s gesture of wearing an undershirt beneath his button-up shirt to ensure she wasn’t directly kissing his bare skin, deeming it less awkward.
The actress revealed her apprehension to the director regarding the scene’s sensual nature, specifying that she would only perform three takes at most, a demand she now chuckles at, envisioning herself as a demanding figure during that time.
Afterward, Hilarie sought solace in the sanctuary of the hair and makeup department, confiding in her manager about her distress.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she retreated to her trailer in tears, conveying her aversion to the perceived sensationalization of the scene.
Echoing her sentiments, Sophia concurred that the sudden escalation in intensity by the writers felt out of place and unsettling.
This shift left Hilarie grappling with feelings of commodification, questioning whether she was inadvertently engaging in a form of paid physical performance akin to a s=x worker.
Gathering her courage, Hilarie returned to set following a shared moment of camaraderie with her hair and makeup team, who partook in grapefruit vodka to bolster her spirits.
Recalling this empowering episode, she highlighted the unity among the women behind the scenes, emphasizing the unwavering support she received, which solidified her friendships and emboldened her to navigate future uncomfortable scenarios together.
