Penn Badgley reveals filming sex scenes for You in new memoir Crushmore

Penn Badgley reveals in his forthcoming memoir Crushmore that a Season 3 sex scene from Netflix’s You required nearly solo on-set performance under a close camera setup. An excerpt published by Vulture on Thursday describes a fantasy sequence in which Joe Goldberg is meant to be intimate with his wife, played by Victoria Pedretti, while secretly dreaming of the librarian, played by Tati Gabrielle. The director wanted a close-up of Badgley’s face as his character enters a dissociative reverie mid-coitus, according to the memoir.

Because there wasn’t space for Pedretti and the seven-hundred-pound camera, Badgley had to simulate sex by himself, effectively humping on the air, on a fake bed in a fake room, surrounded by a film crew, he writes. 'Oh, and I’ll be in the same nude thong I’ve been wearing all morning as we complete the scene, of course,' he adds.

Later, the production changed the shot to look straight down the barrel of the lens, something Badgley says he 'reflexively never do.' He writes that the moment required him to stay present as the scene unfolded, describing it as a moment of 'sheer absurdity' that the actor met with professional resolve: he looked into the camera and, as the exchange of action began, he admits, 'I hump my ass off.'

Badgley isn’t the only cast member to speak candidly about risqué scenes on You. In 2021, Gabrielle told Page Six that she 'freaked out' during her first intimate moment with Badgley in Season 3. She recalled telling him upfront, 'Hey, I’ve never done this before,' and said he reassured her that it would be OK. Gabrielle credited the presence of an intimacy coordinator for helping the moment feel more like a choreographed dance than a nerve-wracking ordeal.

Victoria Pedretti, who plays Joe Goldberg’s wife in the scene, and Gabrielle’s performances have drawn renewed attention in conjunction with Badgley’s reflections on the book. Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age will be available for purchase on Oct. 14.

The memoir’s excerpt adds another layer to the ongoing conversation about on-screen intimacy in popular streaming dramas, illustrating how production constraints and directorial choices influence how scenes are staged and perceived by audiences. The Netflix series You, already noted for its dark psychological premise and provocative moments, continues to be a focal point for discussions about acting, consent, and professional support on set.