Michael Cooper Jr. and Lovie Simone Open Up About Their Intimate Scenes in Netflix’s ‘Forever’

In the Netflix series Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil and based on Judy Blume’s novel, two teenagers from Los Angeles experience the highs and lows of young love and their initial intimate encounters. The series, which brings a contemporary twist to the original book by changing the setting and character backgrounds, brought about a mix of excitement and anxiety for main actors Michael Cooper Jr. and Lovie Simone as they portrayed their emotionally exposed roles.

“Both Lovie and I were really proactive about maintaining open communication with each other,” said Cooper Jr., who is in his debut role, in a recent interview with People. “Opening up can be tough, but having our intimacy coordinator there made us feel at ease. It’s quite technical, handling these intimate scenes.”

“You’re in a room with about 30 crew members, under the lights and camera, and every move is choreographed,” he added, noting that their focus was on making each other as comfortable as possible under the unusual circumstances.

“I remember feeling nervous at first,” he admitted. “But as we continued, it definitely became easier.”

Simone, known for her roles in Prime Video’s Selah and the Spades and Power Book III: Raising Kanan, shared her thoughts on the filming process: “With the support of the intimacy coordinator, Mara, and Michael, navigating those scenes became quite smooth. We approached them just like any other scene—there’s beauty, intention, and layers of complexity.”

“It was crucial for us to portray the genuine awkwardness and tension of first-time relationships,” she emphasized about their onscreen roles.

She finished by expressing her appreciation for the show’s direction: “It’s actually quite refreshing to portray teens who are realistically awkward about intimacy and romance. Often on TV, teenagers are depicted as far more knowledgeable and confident than they typically are in real life. It’s nice to see a change.”

The sentiments of the stars reflect creator Akil’s views about the ongoing relevance of the themes from the novel, originally published in 1975. According to Akil, the series resonates today by addressing themes of vulnerability and the complex journey of adolescence, particularly from the perspective of Black youth.

In a conversation with Deadline, Simone also discussed her chemistry with Cooper Jr., recalling how they first met on the flight to their chemistry reads, and shared her hopes for what young viewers might take from the series.

All episodes of Forever are now available for streaming.