During a press conference at the Venice International Film Festival on Thursday, August 29, the 57-year-old actress insisted that she “didn’t feel exploited” while working on sexually graphic scenes for the movie. While pointing out that *Babygirl* is “obviously about sex,” Nicole noted that it’s also “about desire, it’s about your inner thoughts, it’s about secrets, it’s about marriage, it’s about truth, power, consent,” according to the *Big Little Lies* star. She even called the experience “very freeing” because of how Halina created a safe environment on set. Nicole added, “It was very dear to our shared instincts and very freeing.

I knew she wasn’t going to exploit me. However anyone interprets that, I didn’t feel exploited. I felt very much a part of it. There was enormous caretaking by all of us; we were all very gentle with each other and helped each other.

It felt very authentic, protected and, at the same time, real.”

Although filming the movie “definitely [left Nicole] exposed and vulnerable and frightened,” she acknowledged that “making it with these people here was delicate and intimate.” Nicole’s recent remarks about her movie came days after her interview with [publication] was published on Monday, August 26. “It left me ragged,” she said about her on-set experience. “At some point, I was like, ‘I don’t want to be touched. I don’t want to do this anymore,’ but at the same time, I was compelled to do it.”

*Babygirl* will reach theaters on December 25.