Intimacy

A field guide to finding connection and feeling your deep desires

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Pub Date 5 Jun 2025 | Archive Date Not set

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Description

"A vital contribution to our understanding of intimacy both on screen and in life." Gillian Anderson | An Evening Standard 'Book to Watch' for 2025


From the initial spark of attraction when your eyes first meet, to spontaneously dancing together in the kitchen and falling asleep side by side - how do we create those intimate moments of connection?

As a pioneering Intimacy Coordinator, Ita O’Brien has choreographed some of the most groundbreaking, passionate and vulnerable intimate scenes onscreen. From Normal People to I May Destroy You, and in so many more productions, she has also made these scenes safer, more joyful and more empowering to perform in. No one knows intimacy, the power of true connection, better than her.

So, what can her work teach us about our own relationships, both with ourselves and others? How can we use her tools to discover what it is that we truly want in our intimate lives? And how can all of this create environments in which intimacy can take seed, grow and even thrive?

Combining embodied wisdom, behind-the-scenes stories and exercises for connection, Intimacy offers us a field guide to discovering our desires, communicating our needs, and cultivating truly intimate relationships at every stage of our lives.

"A vital contribution to our understanding of intimacy both on screen and in life." Gillian Anderson | An Evening Standard 'Book to Watch' for 2025


From the initial spark of attraction when your eyes...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781529954036
PRICE £16.99 (GBP)
PAGES 368

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Featured Reviews

Intimacy by Ita O’Brien is an insightful and thought-provoking book that completely changed the way I think about connection, desire and communication. O’Brien’s experience as a pioneering intimacy coordinator gives her a unique perspective, and I found her insights both fascinating and incredibly relevant to everyday relationships.

Having worked on productions such as Normal People and I May Destroy You, she has played a key role in shaping how intimacy is portrayed on screen, ensuring that scenes are not just authentic but also safe and empowering for performers. What I loved about this book is how she takes those same ideas and applies them to real life, offering practical guidance on setting boundaries, expressing desires and creating meaningful relationships.

The behind-the-scenes stories were particularly engaging, adding depth and a real sense of humanity to the book. I also appreciated the exercises for self-reflection and connection, which felt genuinely useful rather than just theoretical. They encouraged me to think about my relationships and how I communicate with them.

This book made me reflect on the importance of true connection, not just in romantic relationships but in all aspects of life. It is a brilliant and empowering read that I would recommend to anyone looking to understand themselves and others on a deeper level.

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