Helen Mirren’s Revelations: Harrison Ford’s Lackluster Kissing Skills

Kissing Harrison Ford may seem like a fantasy to many, but for Helen Mirren, it was far from dreamy.

Recalling her time working with Ford on the 1980s movie “The Mosquito Coast,” Mirren disclosed that he was not a stellar kisser, mentioning that other actors had echoed similar sentiments.

“The Mosquito Coast” is a cinematic adaptation of the novel by Paul Theroux.

The film revolves around Allie Fox, portrayed by Ford, an innovative American with multiple patents who relocates to Central America with his wife, played by Mirren, and children in pursuit of creating a utopia.

However, his fixation leads to the disintegration of his family.

Despite receiving mixed reviews upon its release in 1986 and performing poorly at the box office, earning a meager $14 million globally, the movie has garnered more favorable modern appraisals, boasting a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

In a 1997 interview on a BBC radio show, Mirren commended Ford as a kind and amiable individual.

Nevertheless, she candidly expressed her discomfort with their romantic scenes, stating, “But he can't kiss—he finds it impossible to kiss on screen.”

She further remarked, “He's probably not very good off-screen either,” insinuating that other actresses shared similar views about Ford's kissing abilities.

Although Ford has not directly responded to Mirren's remarks, he previously expressed contentment with his involvement in the movie.

Despite its financial shortcomings, he affirmed, “It's the only film I have done that hasn't made its money back.

I'm still glad I did it.”

Reflecting on the film, he noted that it possibly failed to fully capture the essence of the book and leaned more towards a literary rather than cinematic approach, emphasizing its emotional depth.

While Mirren criticized Ford's on-screen smooching skills, others have praised his kissing prowess.

Dancer Darcey Bussell recounted an alleged screen test for the 1995 romantic comedy “Sabrina,” where she lauded Ford's kissing abilities as the best she had experienced, even retaining a recording of their screen test together.