During the production of Her, Scarlett Johansson revealed that Joaquin Phoenix walked off set while she was recording the sounds for an intimate scene in the movie. In a recent interview on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Johansson explained that Phoenix had already filmed his part of the scene, but when it came time for her to record the sounds of her character, Samantha, having an org*sm, he became uncomfortable. She recalled, “He was like angry… it was so bizarre,” and described how the situation, with dimmed lights and the director Spike Jonze present, made Phoenix lose his composure.
Johansson continued the recording while Phoenix took a break, but she admitted she needed him to return, saying, “I can’t do it alone. I need him to come back.” Phoenix eventually returned after stepping out for a breather. The whole experience left a lasting impression on both actors, with Johansson reflecting on how strange it was to record such a scene and hear her own voice in that context. She added, “You definitely don’t want to hear what you sound like having an org*sm. Ew. It’s so gross.”
The incident highlights the sometimes awkward and bizarre aspects of acting, especially in such intimate or emotionally charged scenes. For Phoenix, the experience clearly pushed him out of his comfort zone, while Johansson seemed more accepting of the unusual nature of the process. The story has resurfaced as a reminder of the challenges actors face when embodying characters in highly personal scenes, even in a film as unique as Her.
