Summary
- Director Matthew Lopez navigated a tricky situation with actor Taylor Zakhar during filming, when Zakhar expressed skepticism about shooting an intimate scene due to his natural body hair.
- Lopez handled the situation with caution, bringing in his hair and makeup person as a witness to the conversation and ultimately reassuring Zakhar that his natural body was beautiful and acceptable for the scene.
- This incident highlights Lopez's ability to handle delicate situations and showcases his intelligence and wit beyond his talents as a playwright and director.
Matthew Lopez recently revealed a slightly tricky exchange that occurred with Taylor Zakhar during the filming of Prime Video’s Red, White & Royal Blue. Based on Casey McQuiston’s New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, the romantic comedy follows an endearing tale of queer love between Prince Henry (Taylor Zakhar), and Alex (Nicholas Galitzine), the first son of the President of the United States.
Speaking to Red, White & Royal Blue star Zakhar when the latter was skeptical about shooting an intimate scene because of his natural body hair. The director recalls requesting the presence of his hair and makeup person to be witness to the exchange, adding that "I didn't want my career to end". Read his full comments below:
“I go into Taylor's trailer — we've been making this movie for like, five, six weeks at this point — and Karen looks at Taylor and says, 'Alright, tell him what you told me,' and he goes, 'I don't know if I should shave or not,'" López explained. "I'm like, 'Your face?' and he goes, 'No, babe.' I'm like, 'Alright, well, what do you want to do about it?' He goes, 'Just look, okay?' So, I had my hair and makeup person there as the chaperone, because I didn't want my career to end before it began, and Taylor, like, lowers his pants and he's like, 'Look at my ass,' and I'm like, 'You're fine, you look great! A body itself, as it is naturally, is a gorgeous thing. I told Taylor, yeah, just bring your hairy butt to set."
Mathew Lopez Has Had Quite The Career
Before making his directorial debut with Red, White & Royal Blue, Matthew Lopez had already been heralded as one of the most gifted playwrights and screenwriters of his generation. He initially made a name for himself back in 2006 when his play The Whipping Man premiered Off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theater Club. The play received several plaudits from critics and viewers, especially for its emotional potency, and it later won the John Gassner New Play Award.
After the success of The Whipping Man, Lopez wrote other successful plays including 2011's Somewhere, Reverberation and The Legend of Georgia McBride. In 2018, his play, The Inheritance premiered at London's Young Vic Theater, and it received widespread critical acclaim. It has received countless accolades from different distinguished bodies, and it currently sits as the most-awarded play in recent years.
Zakhar's request during the filming of the Red, White & Royal Blue was one that understandably placed Lopez in a precarious position. His career was on the up, especially considering that he was shooting his very first feature movie. Lopez was wise enough to navigate the situation with caution, proving that his wit and intelligence are not limited to writing and filmmaking alone.
Source: EW
