Olivia Munn Opens Up About Cancer and Filming Intimate Scenes

New York, NY — Olivia Munn is candidly sharing the challenges she faced while filming intimate scenes for her new Apple TV+ series, “Your Friends and Neighbors,” following her battle with breast cancer.

In a recent interview, Munn described her apprehension about filming sex scenes with co-star Jon Hamm due to the visible scars from five surgeries she underwent before production began. The last of these surgeries occurred just days before shooting started, leading to heightened nervousness about her body image.

“I was really nervous about doing any sex scenes because I have a lot of scars,” Munn told reporters. “Scars that can be seen in clothing and scars that you wouldn’t know unless I was completely nude.” Munn portrays Samantha Levitt, a mother of two involved in a complex affair with Hamm’s character, Andrew Cooper. “She wants something so much more from him than he’s willing to give, and their only connection is through sex,” Munn explained.

To ensure an authentic portrayal of intimacy, Munn collaborated with an intimacy coordinator on set. Despite the support from her colleagues, she still faced insecurity during her performances. “I did feel insecure, but each time I did it, I felt better,” she admitted. “I’m so grateful for my body because it got me through this.”

In previous discussions, she emphasized that her perspective on her body has evolved since her diagnosis. “Honestly, when I think about it, I was much more insecure in past nude scenes long before I had scars across my breasts. Now I view the scars on my body as battle wounds. I fought to be here, and they’re proof of that.”

Munn, who shares a three-year-old son, Malcolm, and a seven-month-old daughter, Méi, with comedian John Mulaney, has been vocal about her breast cancer journey since revealing her diagnosis in March 2024. On Instagram, she detailed the extensive treatment process, which included a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy after being diagnosed with luminal B breast cancer in 2023. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” she wrote at the time. “I hope by sharing this, it will help others find comfort, inspiration, and support on their own journeys.”

Munn described the shock of her diagnosis, saying, “I was walking around thinking that I had no breast cancer. I did all the tests that I knew about.” After reflecting on the severity of her illness, she stated, “You realize cancer doesn’t care who you are; it doesn’t care if you have a baby or if you don’t have time. It comes at you, and you have no choice but to face it head-on.”

As a mother, her outlook has shifted significantly. “You start thinking about your mortality differently once you have a baby,” she stated earlier this year. “It’s his childhood, but it’s my motherhood, and I don’t want to miss any of these parts if I don’t have to.”

Munn also praised Mulaney’s ability to juggle family and work commitments. “He’s doing great,” she said regarding his current Netflix project. “He just sent me a video of himself and my son Malcolm on set today, and Malcolm loves his dad so much. It’s such a sweet dynamic.”

“He can do it all! He has the bandwidth,” Munn noted, emphasizing her partner’s impressive multitasking capabilities. “It is truly amazing. He has the bandwidth to do a live weekly show on Netflix, take my son to school in the morning, read scripts, and sell a show. He always has energy, and he comes home wanting to unwind by watching a Korean drama with my mom — he has so much energy.”

“Your Friends and Neighbors” is now available for streaming on Apple TV+.