Penn Badgley Just Revealed That He Had To Put Wax “In Every Orifice” For The Water Scene In "You" Because The Pond Was “Laced With E. Coli”
Context:
Penn Badgley revealed the challenging conditions faced during the filming of a water scene in the final season of Netflix's 'You', primarily due to the pond being contaminated with E. coli. The production team took extensive precautions, requiring actors to apply wax to seal every body orifice and wear thick Speedos to prevent exposure to the bacteria. Despite the unpleasantness of the situation, these measures were implemented out of an abundance of caution, although the director himself did not enter the water. The scene depicted Joe Goldberg's violent confrontation with Louise 'Bronte' Flannery, showcasing his true monstrous nature. Badgley's account highlighted the lengths actors sometimes go to for safety and authenticity in their roles, coupled with a touch of humor in recalling the unusual protective measures taken on set.
Dive Deeper:
The final season of 'You' includes a significant water scene where Penn Badgley's character, Joe Goldberg, attempts to drown his love interest, Louise 'Bronte' Flannery, in a pond contaminated with E. coli.
To ensure the safety of the actors, wax was applied to seal all body orifices, and they wore specially designed thick Speedos to prevent bacterial exposure.
Much of the scene was filmed using body doubles for health and safety reasons, but Badgley did submerge himself in the contaminated water for certain shots.
The production team emphasized that while the situation was not dangerous, it was notably unpleasant due to the contamination, and they acted with an abundance of caution.
The director, Lee Toland Krieger, reassured the cast that he wouldn't ask them to do anything he wouldn't do himself, though he did not enter the water.
The scene is critical in the series, as it fully reveals Joe Goldberg's terrifying and violent nature in a dramatic confrontation with Bronte.
Badgley's recounting of the experience on his podcast 'Podcrushed' included humorous anecdotes about the lengths they went to ensure safety during filming.