Susan Sarandon Reveals Peter Hinwood Was Terrified to Film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s Sexiest Scene
Susan Sarandon, now 78, is looking back with a smile — and a little bit of mischief — on her time filming The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In a new documentary called Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, the legendary actress opens up about one of the film’s most iconic moments, the sexy number Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me, and how it wasn’t quite as comfortable for everyone on set as it looked on screen.
Susan, who played Janet Weiss, says she fell in love with her character’s unexpected transformation during the movie. “Janet was trying to appeal to her idiot boyfriend and then, at the same time, feeling things she hadn’t felt and experiencing things she hadn’t done before and uncovering a deep sexuality,” she said. “ I think the movie’s about saying yes, to life and to everything,”
But that famous scene where Janet seduces the muscle-bound creation Rocky? It wasn’t quite so steamy behind the scenes. Her scene partner, Peter Hinwood, who played Rocky, had zero acting experience and even less comfort with the situation.
“Peter, of course was just the shyest, quietest. I think that was traumatizing to him to have to do that scene with me. I really had to invite him to Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-It because he was very nervous and clearly this was something that was outside of his previous experience,” Susan remembers.
Peter, who is also 78 now, agrees it wasn’t easy. “I’m not an actor by any means. I just tried to put whatever I could into it at the time. I was just sort of told do this do that and if I had to look miserable, I did the best I could to strained or ghastly, whatever I had to do,” he admits.
His co-star Nell Campbell, who played Columbia, couldn’t help but laugh as she reflected on Peter’s experience. “Imagine … he never acted before and he was naked the whole time except for one moment in bandages,” the 71-year-old actress said, adding, “He was magnificent. He was the only man with muscles in the whole of the United Kingdom, I might add.”
Peter, modest as ever, says he wasn’t sure he even did a good job. “I was quite insecure about my talents and abilities. I didn’t really know what I was doing,” he said.
He continued, “Now it turns out I did okay. It’s a bit of a mystery, really.”
Casting director Joel Thurm knew there was something special happening on set — especially with Susan. “I was very happy with the whole cast of the film, but it was only when we started filming and I saw Susan Sarandon through the camera that I saw what a career that was going to be,” he shared.
Almost five decades later, it’s clear The Rocky Horror Picture Show was more than just a cult classic — it was quite the ride for everyone involved.
