Scott Thomas: 'On-screen sex wasn't real'

Kristin Scott Thomas has brushed aside any suggestion that her sex scenes in Partir (Leaving) were unsimulated.

The actress won the 'Best British Actress' gong at the Evening Standard British Film Awards for her role as Suzanne in Catherine Corsini's French-language film.

When it was noted that the sex scenes 'looked very real', Scott Thomas said: "I can assure you straight away they were not real."

She added that such scenes "can be empowering, because you feel like you're brave enough to do it and everyone else around you isn't. It's like jumping off a cliff".

Scott Thomas previously explained that you need "courage" and "choreography" to shoot a good love scene.

Of her decision to star in the film, Scott Thomas said: "At the time, I was interested in making a film about a mature woman, her emotions and her sexuality.

"All around me, marriages are breaking down. You get to your late-40s and practically every couple you know is disintegrating. So many of my friends are gorgeous, powerful [but now] single women. How did they get that way?"