Harris Dickinson has revealed experiencing numerous deeply inappropriate comments from women after his role in the 2024 film Babygirl. The British actor discussed this troubling shift in behavior on the September 25 episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, highlighting how public reactions to male actors in erotic or intense roles have changed.
Babygirl, a psychosexual thriller centered on an age-gap relationship between a CEO and her intern, stars Dickinson alongside Nicole Kidman. While promoting the film, Dickinson encountered comments that crossed boundaries, particularly from female fans who treated his involvement as an invitation for personal or sexual remarks.
Adjusting to Public Perceptions and Unwanted Attention
During the podcast, Dickinson addressed the challenges that come with such remarks from viewers. He explained,
“I think it’s [become] OK to do this to male actors, weirdly, [and] that’s the problem,”
and added,
“I think it becomes acceptable to do that to younger male actors, whereas if we’re in a conversation [like we are] now, I get a lot of women [chiming in to] say things to me that are deeply inappropriate.”
These experiences left him struggling to cope with the expectations placed on him as someone associated with an erotic film.
He elaborated further,
“You’re expected to just laugh it off, and I think that’s why I struggled with that experience,”
emphasizing that his role and the unique approach by director Halina Reijn were often reduced unfairly in public perception. Dickinson stated,
“People could say, ‘Well, you did a film that you knew was going to be somewhat erotic.’ It’s, like, yeah, but the film that we made and the approach that Halina [Reijn, the director] spoke about, for me, was something way more unique. It wasn’t a reductive thing in my mind.”
Despite the film’s intentions, Dickinson said,
“I guess you can’t control the perception of it, and the way that people want to talk about it and the narrative. It’s a strange thing, and I feel like I’m constantly rejecting that a little bit.”
Incidents Involving Fans Highlight Boundaries Crossed
Dickinson also described a recent encounter with a female fan, illustrating the discomfort such interactions can cause. The fan asked if he would dance for her and shared a personal anecdote about where she watched the film, prompting the actor to comment,
“I won’t say the rest, and it’s like, that’s not OK,”
and,
“I don’t want to know about your sexual experience with this story. It is odd.”
These moments underscore the difficulty Dickinson faces in separating his work from invasive fan behavior while navigating his growing fame.
Finding Positivity Amidst Public Exposure
Despite these challenges, Dickinson expressed appreciation for the varied encounters acting can bring. He told podcast host Josh Horowitz,
“I really love meeting people, I do, and I think [an acting career can] open you up to that in the most intense way. You know, like, you get all different types of interactions. I do find it quite interesting having those experiences with new people.”
Dickinson also finds comfort in the camaraderie of fellow actors, especially while working on the upcoming Beatles biopic series. He stars as John Lennon alongside Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr. Reflecting on the opportunity, he said,
“It was, like, such a unique opportunity with such an expectational filmmaker and an amazing group of people,”
continuing,
“At the time, it was only Paul [Mescal who] was on it. For me, it was, like, ‘Obviously, I’m going to do this.’ [Any] doubts were very quickly eradicated.”
Preparing for The Beatles Biopic and the Power of Persistence
Dickinson revealed that rehearsals have already started, focusing on music for the project. He discussed the intense process, explaining,
“I don’t want to say too much, but you go into a process like this, and you think, ‘God, I’m never going to be able to look back,’”
and added,
“And [then] eight months have gone by, and you’re all miraculously doing it. It’s the power of repetition and hours and what people holding you accountable [for that] is quite a motivator.”
This level of dedication reflects Dickinson’s commitment to his craft amid the complex dynamics fame introduces to his personal and professional life.
