Neal McDonough has revealed that he refuses to engage in any intimate scenes on-screen, even going as far as to say he won’t kiss anyone other than his wife.
The Homestead stars personal rules have led him to turn down roles that require romantic scenes, and it hasn’t always been easy as he’s lost major opportunities because of it.
According to Page Six, the dad-of-five recalled a specific incident in 2010 when he lost an estimated $1 million gig on the set of ABC TV’s Scoundrels due to his refusal to participate in intimate scenes with actress Virginia Madsen.
He recounted the fallout, describing it as “horrible,” and adding: “After that, I couldn’t get a job because everybody thought I was this religious zealot. I am very religious. I put God and family first, and me second. That’s what I live by. It was hard for a few years.”
“But I was not going to lose the fight. And it worked. My career has been phenomenal,” he said.
But, despite the challenges, McDonoughs career has thrived, and he has taken on various roles that align with his values.
When he was cast as the husband of Nicollette Sheridan’s character on Desperate Housewives, he had a direct conversation with the show’s creator, Marc Cherry.
“I’m sure you know, but I won’t kiss anybody,” he told Cherry. Rather than pushing back, Cherry embraced the challenge: “All right, I’m just going to have to write better,” and the two went on to have a successful working relationship.
