How Do You Prepare For A Love Scene?

Byline: Jeffrey Slonim PHOTOGRAPHED BY PATRICK McMULLAN

Shooting one can rattle even the most stoic actor. There's the intimacy, the choreography, and, of course, the nudity. In preparation, basic grooming issues escalate into careful rituals. We approached fully clothed stars at the SAG Awards, a Calvin Klein party for the film 21, and at an allure and Cinema Society dinner for Smart People, and asked how they cope.

First, they make a checklist of necessities. "Breath mints and a little perfume behind the ears," said Emmy Rossum. Brittany Murphy also favors mints: "I just think it's courteous, and I share them." And Zoe McLellan from Dirty Sexy Money added this to the short list: "Brush your teeth, wear deodorant, and shave your legs."

From there, nudity is the looming issue. "I go to the gym a lot," said Virginia Madsen. And Patricia Clarkson advised, "Just make sure you're going to look good in your underwear."

Still, some people would relish the chance to strip down. "Look at me," said Ricky Gervais. "When do I get a romantic scene ever at all? I'm never going to ...