NEWSRosie O'Donnell Says Filming Intimate Scenes With Cynthia Nixon for 'And Just Like That' Was 'Horrifying'
Rosie O’Donnell talked about how she was nervous to film 'And Just Like That' intimate scenes with friend Cynthia Nixon.
Aug. 12 2026, Published 7:28 a.m. ET
Rosie O’Donnell opened up about an unexpectedly nerve-racking experience while filming And Just Like That… with her longtime friend Cynthia Nixon.
During a Tuesday, August 11, appearance on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast, the comedian admitted she felt “horrified” while shooting intimate scenes with Nixon for the first episode of the third and final season of the S-- and the City spinoff.
Rosie O’Donnell admitted she felt nervous while filming intimate scenes with Cynthia Nixon on ‘And Just Like That….’
O’Donnell appeared as Sister Mary, a nun who breaks her vow of chastity and begins a relationship with Nixon’s character, Miranda Hobbes, after the two meet at a l-------- bar in New York City.
“I was so nervous,” O’Donnell said. “The kissing wasn’t hard, but the laying in bed and the wanting us to act like we had just done it. I was like, ‘Uhh.’ But I’m a little immature when it comes to that.”
Poehler reassured her that feeling uncomfortable in those moments is pretty normal.
“I don’t even think that’s immature. I’ve talked to a lot of my friends who have to do intimate scenes, and it’s a skill,” Poehler responded.
O’Donnell agreed with her assessment, adding, “It’s a skill. It really is.”
She Didn't Know What She Was Signing Up For
Rosie O’Donnell said she had no idea the role would involve an intimate storyline when she initially agreed to appear on the series.
When O’Donnell first agreed to join the series, she had no idea the role would involve such a personal storyline with Nixon.
The comedian said Nixon contacted her directly about the opportunity, and O’Donnell immediately agreed because of how much she admires her longtime friend.
“First of all, I love her. Like, I love her. I have so much respect for her,” O’Donnell said of Nixon. “She called me, and she’s like, ‘Ro, Michael Patrick [King] wrote you a scene, and it’s with me. Will you do it?’ I said, ‘Of course I’ll do it with you,’” she explained. “Then, I read it, and I’m in bed with just the sheets. I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’”
O’Donnell also revealed that she had very little experience filming intimate scenes. Before working with Nixon, her only other s-- scene had been with the late Julian McMahon during her guest appearance on the FX drama Nip/Tuck.
“So I was nervous with Cynthia,” she noted. “And then Michael said, ‘You guys can be a little bit more.’ And I’m thinking, ‘I can’t really.’”
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Nixon Was Thrilled to Work With Her Friend
Cynthia Nixon said the kissing itself was not the hardest part for Rosie O’Donnell during filming
While O’Donnell admitted to feeling uneasy about the scenes, Nixon had a much more enthusiastic reaction to having her longtime friend join the show.
For Nixon, bringing O’Donnell onto And Just Like That… was something the series had been working toward for years.
“We’ve been trying to find a job for Rosie ever since we started the show. It never worked out before, but I’m glad this was the one that worked out,” Nixon told TheWrap.
Cynthia Nixon revealed that Michael Patrick King had been trying to create a role for Rosie O’Donnell since the show began.
The casting had actually been in the works for several seasons. Nixon previously explained that series creator King had repeatedly tried to develop a role specifically for O’Donnell.
“Michael Patrick King, who writes our show, and is one of the chief writers on our show, has been trying to write a part for Rosie every season, and it’s never quite worked out,” the actress told People.
This time, however, King finally found a storyline that fit.
“So this time when he told me what the idea was, I thought, ‘Oh this is fantastic, and he let me text her myself and describe it and say, ‘Could we please send you this script?’ With all our fingers and toes crossed,” Nixon recalled.
