Imagine having the chance to kiss a superstar like Ryan Reynolds. For many, it would be a memorable experience, but for Morena Baccarin, it was more of an unusual one.
Morena, who spent two days filming intimate scenes with the Canadian actor, humorously described the experience as being akin to “kissing a giant latex condom.” Quite the comparison!
If you’ve enjoyed the 2016 film Deadpool, you probably recall the montage of romantic scenes illustrating a year of close moments between the characters. Baccarin played Vanessa Carlysle, the fiancée to Reynolds’ character, Wade Wilson, better known as Deadpool. This meant she got to share plenty of on-screen kisses with Reynolds, both in this movie and its 2018 follow-up.
To be fair to Ryan Reynolds, he was often in character under the mask, which Morena noted, complimenting his professionalism throughout the filming process. The comical montage depicted them in a variety of costumes celebrating different seasons and holidays, ranging from Valentine’s Day, International Women’s Day, to Christmas.
In a light-hearted chat with Conan O’Brien in 2017, Morena shared some behind-the-scenes insight about the lengthy shoot, describing it as, “The film was incredibly fun… minus the two days dedicated to those scenes, the whole experience was really wonderful.”
Morena explained further, “Shooting the scene took two whole days because it aimed to capture a whole year of romantic moments. Each holiday had its own unique outfit.”
In a 2018 conversation with People magazine, Morena playfully discussed the peculiar aspects of working so closely with Reynolds in full costume. She joked, “Kissing him through that mask was like kissing a giant latex condom. The scent of rubber was omnipresent.”
While that might not be the most romantic feedback, Morena valued Reynolds’ professionalism even under such quirky circumstances. In a 2015 interview with Collider, she shared, “There’s always a lot of laughter in those moments. They can be uncomfortable, but we made the best of it.”
Morena also added with candor, “By the end, you’re thinking, ‘Okay, what’s next? Where should I be?’ You end up feeling very comfortable around each other.”
The particular demands of filming long stretches of on-screen romance bring a unique set of challenges and comedic moments, which this experience encapsulates perfectly. Both Morena and Ryan seemingly took it all in stride, delivering performances that entertained many fans worldwide.
