Margo Stilley, the actress best known for her role in the controversial 2004 film 9 Songs, has opened up about her decision to perform unsimulated sex scenes in the movie, despite later requesting that her name be removed from the credits.
Stilley, now 42, played the female lead, Lisa, in the film, which gained notoriety for featuring real sexual intercourse and graphic scenes that pushed the boundaries of mainstream cinema.
A Film About Love
9 Songs, which is directed by Michael Winterbottom, follows the relationship between an American exchange student, Lisa, and a British scientist, Matt (played by Kieran O’Brien).
The film was set against the vibrant backdrop of live rock concerts and became controversial due to its raw and unsimulated sexual content, including oral sex and an ejaculation scene.
Despite the movie's bold approach, Stilley expressed a desire to remain anonymous following its release. However, her identity was soon revealed, and she went on to pursue a career in both film and television.
In the years since, Stilley has been steadfast in defending her performance and has insisted that she never did anything "crazy".
“It wasn’t shocking,” she remarked, per The Guardian. “If you know you’re going to watch a film like this, it’s not abrasive. It’s just normal sex that everyone has, not crazy stuff. I'm surprised [by the controversy], and even more by the fact that I've brought most of it on myself."
In a 2008 interview with The Irish Examiner, Stilley reflected on the harsh backlash she faced after the film’s release.
“When I did press conferences, people would shout abuse at me,” she recalled, revealing that she was called a “wh**e” and a “sl*t” because of the explicit scenes. “I didn’t invent sex! There’s a huge sex industry out there worth billions,” she retorted.
At the time of filming, Stilley was just 21, and she clarified that despite the controversies, she never felt taken advantage of by the director.
“People ask me if I felt that [director] Michael Winterbottom took advantage of me because I hadn’t acted before, but they forget that I developed the character,” she said. "I am not at all like my character Lisa, and I was genuinely shocked by the reaction to the film and, particularly, to my role in it."
Despite 9 Songs receiving a low 23% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Stilley went on to build a diverse career, appearing in projects like How to Lose Friends & Alienate People alongside Megan Fox and Gillian Anderson, and in The Trip, which stars Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon.
Her acting career has not been limited to roles defined by her past, and she asserted: “I honestly can say it hasn’t affected my career. I don’t get seen only for roles as women who have sex a lot.”